Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CLAYPOOL - The Claypool Town Council voted to place Town Marshal Trevor Long on a consecutive five-day suspension with no pay during a council meeting Tuesday.
This suspension is the result of Long signing a contract with the Department of Homeland Security without council approval. During a May 19 meeting, the council said the town could potentially receive a six-figure stipend from DHS tied into an arrest made by Long. He was on routine patrol when he found an individual with a federal warrant for their arrest.
Following resident questions concerning the legality of Long applying for the stipend without the town's authorization, council, along with Long and the town's legal counsel, held a special meeting on May 27 to address additional questions and concerns.
At the July meeting, Long said this was the first time he was hearing about a reprimand and that the DHS contract was cancelled.
"The chief of police has always signed other agreements," said Long. "I sign all the agreements for the police department ... IDACS agreement, interlocal agreement ... the chief of police has operational control to sign those agreements. Now, if the board discusses and says they don't want to participate in a program, that's when we come back and go 'OK.'"
Town attorney Rama Sobhani provided clarification and said council always had the option to ratify the contract with DHS after the fact.
Council member Don Miller said in reviewing the DHS paperwork, he was concerned about the town's financial involvement for payments until reimbursement occurred.
"You can't sign one of these without the board doing it," said Council member Gene Warner. "The board has to do it, and you did, and left us in a mess. I know you sign all kinds of things, but this is something else that you made a decision on, and it should be us, not you, making that decision."
After some back-and-forth conversation on how the stipend worked and its relation to other programs, Miller said he appreciated Long's initiative in considering the town's financial standing but noted there was protocol to follow.
"It put us in jeopardy," said Miller.
Long said he didn't have any ill intent or malice in making this decision, and he viewed it as a way to help alleviate a financial stressor for the town.
Town Council President Benny Stage said there was no proposed question on if there was intended malice, but if an offense occurred, it warranted a reprimand.
Following this discussion, a motion was not made at that time for any type of reprimand against Long.
Council redirected to an additional concern brought up at the town's special meeting regarding Long utilizing a police vehicle to travel to his place of residence, which is two counties away. Long said he only took the vehicle to his house when he worked consecutive days, but he was open to no longer doing that. The council approved Sobhani preparing a resolution stating that the town marshal cannot take a town vehicle to their place of residence.
Long also provided an update on the town's reserve officer status, saying one officer was still in training, and Paul Mullins still served Claypool as a reserve. David Lawson, an officer who was placed on probation after totaling a police vehicle, resigned.
Warner then brought up there were discrepancies "about (Long) working, either with the car, on side jobs or in uniform."
Long said the police department does not work side jobs, and the police vehicle stays in town.
"We go over this all the time," said Long.
Following some back-and-forth statements regarding Warner's questions on the discrepancies, Long walked out of the meeting and asked Warner if he wanted his resignation.
"If you're walking out the door right now, we'll take your resignation," said Stage.
"I can leave this meeting at any time," said Long.
"Not while we're talking to you," said Stage. "I'll consider that as your resignation."
"You can consider it however you want, but that is not a resignation," said Long. "Me leaving a board meeting does not constitute a resignation."
After Long left, Stage said as far as he knew, the town marshal and Town Superintendent Danny Warner are required to attend council meetings. He asked Sobhani to look into that to see if the town had anything in writing about that.
"I personally take that as a resignation," said Stage.
Gene asked Sobhani if the town also had anything in writing about the town marshal using the town's authority to do odd jobs like concert security. Sobhani said he would look into it.
Council then revisited a reprimand for Long regarding the DHS issue, voting 2-1 for a consecutive five-day suspension with no pay, effective July 27. Miller opposed the reprimand.
In other business, council brought up mowing concerns for railroad property owned by Norfolk Southern. Lucas Conley with LC Lawn Services attended the meeting and said he was willing to do the work, but he needed permission from Norfolk Southern to do so. Conley told council he and Long had both been in a lengthy back-and-forth conversation with Norfolk Southern on getting the issue resolved.
Stage also brought up that potentially establishing a building inspector position for all the small towns in Kosciusko County is in the preliminary discussion phase.
Council's next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Claypool Lions Club building.
