To Joy Ingram, Editor The Louisville Observer (Deceiver):
In the Volume 1, Issue 2 dated April 16, 2010 of your fine, political piece, is your article, Is Eight Enough?, you made the following observation, "You will recall in December two ordinances were passed, on to decrease the number of PC members to five and the other to raise the number to nine. This forced the Planning commission to obtain a restraining order to enable it to continue to do business."
I have attached an e-mail dated DECEMBER 16 which Alderman Steve Dixon sent to the town's Assistant Controller and to the BMA which of course included Vice Mayor Gormley and Mayor Anderson. He asked that everything passed by the BMA be forwarded to the Town Attorney, Chris Ralls. None of the legislation had been published which is required by state law and therefore the legislation was not yet enforceable.
Steve said he was concerned and he said they had inadequate legal representation and he expressed concern the legislation passed in November and December were "incomplete or flawed". Despite that concession from Steve, your husband, Jere Ingram, and the rest of the Planning Commission commissioners filed the lawsuit on DECEMBER 18.
Now, please retract your statement and maybe you can ask Vice Mayor Gormley and Mayor Anderson why they did not accept Alderman Dixon's concerns and in the spirit of civility stop the insane lawsuit. Also ask them why they did not contact the Town's Attorney and advise him the lawsuit was being filed and seek his advice.
Vice Mayor Robert Gormley is the BMA's representative on the PC. Ask Bob why he did not try to intervene at the PC meeting and stop the lawsuit? Also ask him why he voted to continue the lawsuit at the last PC meeting even though the ordinance that "gave him heartburn" had been rescinded?
Ask your husband Jere and other litigants why they asked the court to have the three aldermen they sued personally pay the legal bills?
Ask them why they put much personal value on their position on the Planning Commission since it is an unpaid appointment?
If you want to provide objective journalism, then you will retract your inaccurate statement. Is your publication the "Louisville Observer or is it more accurately the Louisville Deceiver?"
Ask Tom Bickers why he recommended to his fellow commissioners that they sue the town both as a commission and as individuals?
Ask them if they intended to punish the aldermen because they dared to enforce state law?
Mrs. Ingram, I hope you will continue to publish your Louisville Observer after the political season and election year is over but I know you won't.
Mrs. Ingram, you can publish what you wish but facts are hard things and you should to stick with the facts please.
Wayne Lance