Don't say 'Jehovah;' don't say 'mayor' (or else)

Look, I don't think it should be a sin, just for saying "mayor."

Sorry, there, Folks. Please pardon me for my momentary flashback.

Back a million years ago – or as far back as 1979, anyway – when I was a student at the University of Cincinnati, there was a popular and very humorous Monty Python British comedy entitled "Life of Brian."

One particular sequence in the movie centered around the use of the term "Jehovah," and the punishment of a public stoning for the alleged crime.

The dialogue goes like this:

Matthias (about to be stoned): "Look, I don't think it should be a sin, just for saying 'Jehovah.'"

Jewish Official: "You're only making it worse for yourself!"

Matthias: "Making it worse? How can it be worse? Jehovah! Jehovah! Jehovah!"

Jewish Official: "I'm warning you! If you say "'Jehovah' one more time (the official gets hit with a rock for accidentally saying 'Jehovah') ALL RIGHT! Who did that? Come on, who did it?

Jewish Official: "Was it you?"

Stoner: "Yes. Well you did say 'Jehovah.'" (The crowd then throws rocks at the stoner for saying "Jehovah.")

Jewish Official: STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT, RIGHT NOW! All right, no one is to stone anyone until I blow this whistle. Even – and I want to make this absolutely clear – even if they do say, 'Jehovah.'"

The crowd then stones the Jewish Official to death.

* * *

Until this morning, I had not thought much about "Life of Brian" for many years.

This morning, I read a city of Hillsboro administrative mandate which, in essence, boils down to this (thank you, Brandy Chandler):

• "By order of the mayor of Hillsboro, all city employees have been ordered not to use the phrase 'by order of the mayor of Hillsboro.'"

Got that?

In a May 14 memo to all city department heads, Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin wrote (on the SSD and mayor's letterhead):

"Effective immediately, if any city employee feels the need to make a decree to the general public, it should be made on the behalf of 'The City Administration.' Employees should not use – with the general public – the following phrases to help enforce guidelines, rules or mandates:

• By Order of the Mayor;

• Direct Order from the Mayor's Office;

• On Behalf of the Mayor;

• Or any derivative of identifying the Mayor."

The incredulousness of the memorandum notwithstanding, perhaps it did have some merit. Thus, I contacted one of the two members of the "city administration," in this case, Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin.

I asked Mr. Wilkin what prompted the memo.

He asked me how I obtained the memo.

Wrong question.

I explained that it is a public record and my tax dollars and other people's tax dollars paid him to write the memo. What I'd like to know is what purpose it served in furthering local public service.

Moreover, in responding to my acquisition of said public record, I explained that how I came in possession of the document really is not important. I could (but have no intention of doing so) make a public records request for every memo the city administration has ever written and every email it has sent or received. Frankly, I have neither the time nor the inclination to do that.

After establishing those points on public record, I began to enjoy our walk about town and cordial conversation this morning. In my opinion – with an emphasis on "opinion" – Mr. Wilkin is a positive addition to the city administration. I like his private-sector background. And I trust that he will come to understand – as I once had to – that there are – for better or for worse – different managerial rules of engagement between the private and public arenas.

Rule No. 1 for all public officials is what I have long referred to as the David Kelley Response. Mr. Kelley has been the Adams County prosecutor for many years. When asked by a West Union resident in my office many years ago: "Who's your boss?," Mr. Kelley immediately responded: "The 29,000 residents of Adams County."

Perfect answer.

I've never forgotten that. I've shared this, too, from time to time, with our readers – and with other public officials. It's worth repeating, in my opinion.

Without going into any unnecessary details, I will share a few generalities from today's walkabout.

First, let me say that Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin has been in The Highland County Press office at least three times since taking over for the previous SSD – who had been in The HCP office a grand total of zero times. As I've said to many people, I enjoy our conversations.

From the perspective of the two city administrators – Mr. Wilkin and Mayor Hastings, I can understand the potential dilemma when one of the many city employees may issue a blanket statement to a citizen regarding a particular action. "The mayor ordered it," the city worker might say, more of convenience than of the actuality of an administrative order.

Let's say, for example, there was a repetitive practice of police officers, firefighters, street workers, water and sewer employees, auditor's staff, etc., addressing each and every citizen's governmental concern with a pat answer: "This was per the mayor's orders."

That would be most convenient for the city employees, but rather inconvenient for the mayor.

I think that's the message that Mr. Wilkin was attempting to convey. To his credit, he said he tried a more direct approach prior to issuing the memo.

With that said, and with all due respect, I cannot help but think that this particular memo isn't worth the taxpayer-funded paper it's written on.

Why?

Because, if you are one of the city's 60 or 70 employees (an approximate guesstimate!), and you are employed to carry out any one of many city administrative edicts, and upon being questioned, you are required to respond, per the city administration: "All employees should consider the following phrase when addressing the general public 'on behalf of the city administration,'" what, pray tell, is the city worker to do when the citizen at large asks: "And who is the city administration?"

(Before continuing, please accept my apology for that previous sentence. A more convoluted mess of a train wreck I have never written. Stone me, already, Jehovah.)

Seriously, though, as Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler told me this afternoon: The "city administration" is comprised of two people: Drew Hastings and Todd Wilkin.

Ordering a citywide speech restriction on all Hillsboro employees seems not only to be counterproductive but also unenforceable. And if the new policy is, indeed, enforceable, what are the penalties for noncompliance? What happens, for instance, if the chief of police suddenly begins enforcing the parking restrictions in uptown Hillsboro on Sunday mornings?

(Hypothetically speaking) is he to inform local church-goers that his department must write these tickets by order of the city administration? Then, should a prayerful soul inquire: "Chief, just who is this 'city administration?,'" what are the police chief's options?

Does he reach into his uniform pocket and present the administrative memo and say, "Read these two names, just to the right of the city logo where it says 'Where Pride Rings True?'"

I doesn't know. And I doubt that anyone in city government knows, either.

Earlier today, I wrote that it is not clear if the administrative memo is related to recent disciplinary action a Hillsboro Police Department officer.

Personally, I believe it was.

The memo was dated just two days before a longtime police officer was (officially) suspended and demoted. Qualified sources have told me that this officer, Sgt. Ron Priest, made a statement related to parking at Liberty Park during a weekend soccer activity. Sgt. Priest declined to discuss the matter. So did the city administration.

I can accept and respect that from all parties.

However, when one looks at the timing of the memo, more questions arise.

The Highland County Press was the first medium to report that in a letter dated May 16, Mr. Wilkin instructed the city auditor that an officer was suspended from May 19-25 and demoted from sergeant to patrolman.

Mr. Wilkin said Friday, May 31 that the memo became necessary after instances of some city employees – in more than one department – used the phrase "per the mayor" in situations where the mayor had no direct involvement.

Rather than cite a specific code for enforcement, these employees were misrepresenting the mayor, Mr. Wilkin said.

If that's true, these city employees are guilty of playing politics when they ought to be doing their jobs.

But my gut tells me that the city administration might be seeking a little political expediency here. After all, part of politics – as we see all too often on the state and federal levels – is deflecting criticism. What better way to deflect criticism than by abolishing it?

Let me add this: While I doubt Sgt. Priest and I could agree on more than 10 of 100 federal governmental issues, I believe him to be a good police officer. We have been able to disagree on philosophical issues without ever becoming disagreeable. I have no reason not to respect Sgt. Priest and it saddens me that his name is in the city's public record for disciplinary reasons for all to see.

Furthermore, as some may or may not know, the city administration is involved in what the city administration calls "costly" negotiations with local labor unions on multiple fronts. It is no secret that Sgt. Priest has represented the rank-and-file police officers. Whether that has any bearing on his suspension and demotion, I do not know. If the city administration – which purportedly works for you – does know, it is not saying. Again, that is understandable from where they are sitting, but much less so from where the officer's family and friends are sitting.

Highland County Press columnist Jim Thompson recently reminded us of the words of former President Harry Truman: "The buck stops here."

Give 'em hell, Harry, was right. The buck has to stop somewhere. Whether city employees use the "city administration" phrase or not, what local residents and taxpayers must understand – above all else – is this: If these city workers are not complying with the rules set forth by the two-person administration, upon whose authority are they attempting to fulfill their respective duties?

Or, as Brian's mother would say: "This is boring. Let's go watch a stoning."

Enforcement is everything, after all.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press, the only locally owned and completely independent newspaper in Highland County. (We like it that way!)