Council Democrats Block Investigation Of Gray

Democratic members of the City-County Council succeeded in blocking a legislative proposal to investigate City-County Council President Monroe Gray's financial ties to a concrete company he owns but originally failed to disclose on his statement of economic interest. The Rules & Public Policy Committee sent Proposal 182 to the full council with a 4-2 recommendation to strike the proposal. Councilor Rozelle Boyd, chairman of the Rules & Public Policy Committee, argued that Gray's subsequent amendment to his statement of economic interest, as instructed by the Ethics Board, cleared the matter. Council Minority Leader Phil Borst disagreed with the Committee's finding, arguing that the Ethics Board had failed to look into allegations Gray had received compensation for work performed for United Water as a subcontractor on a city-financed project. Borst contended the Ethics Board only looked into the issue of gifts Gray may have received. He also found claims by Gray that he had not performed work for United Water as reported in the Star dubious.

When the full council voted, absent the recently-resigned Democratic Councilor Patrice Abduallah (D), on a motion to strike the investigation of Gray, an indecisive 13-13 vote was reached. Gray abstained from voting on the matter. Councilor Borst then offered a motion to pass Proposal 182 as introduced, which the Council's legal counsel, Aaron Haith, declared out of order. Borst objected to Haith rendering a ruling on the matter since he was also serving as Gray's personal attorney, arguing Haith had a clear conflict of interest on the matter. Councilor Joanne Sanders, who presided for purposes of the motion, allowed Borst's motion to go forward. It, too, ended in an indecisive 13-13 vote. As it now stands, Proposal 182 is in limbo until either side can muster the votes to either approve or defeat the proposed investigation of Gray.