Source: http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/2011/07/mayor-fretti-ethics-hearing-cont-with-taylor-harris-and-flumerfelt.html
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Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt | On the LAKE front
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt
We saw part 1, and now here are the rest of the videos George Boston Rhynes sent of the Valdosta City Council’s ethics hearing of 22 June 2011 about Mayor Fretti’s travel expenses. There was assorted legal wrangling, plus appearances by
VDT Editor Kay Harris
Former VDT Reporter Matt Flumerfelt
George’s comments are quoted below. -jsq
Here’s Part 1 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 1 of 8:
Mayor Fretti’s Expenses,
Ethics Hearing, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 June 2011.
Videos by George Boston Rhynes for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Alvin Payton, Jr. asked quite a few questions.
Here’s Part 2 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 2 of 8:
Roy Taylor testified.
Regardless of what some may say about Mr. Roy Taylor he is no push over and keeps his mind focused on the point.
Here’s Part 3 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 3 of 8:
Roy Taylor continued to testify.
Mr. Taylor stands and seaks from the heart and we must commend him for taking a strong stand against Valdosta City Hall for what he believes in.
Here’s Part 4 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 4 of 8:
Here’s Part 5 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 5 of 8:
I am extremely sorry for posting so much of this public meeting on this site. However, I do believe the American people are often without truth, and complete coverage of what goes on in their community. Therefore, it is imperative that you get this truth and pass it along to your family members, children, and others.
Here’s Part 6 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 6 of 8:
VDT Editor Kay Harris testified.
Searching for the truth in a web of questions and Valdosta Daily Times Editor Kay Harris stands strong for what she believes in and I must commend her! She was extremely impressive and made her point extremely clear! I stood with her 100% and I saw nothing but extreme professionalism. Thank you for doing what we all should expect from a FREE PRESS Editor. Again, keep up the great work and happy you were in the mix! G.B.R.
From the VDT’s editorial account of this meeting:
In an attempt to deflect attention from Mayor John Fretti’s alleged misdeeds at the city’s ethics committee hearing Tuesday, Fretti’s attorney Mike Bennett tried to discredit the Valdosta Daily Times by stating that reporters had received money from Roy Taylor to dig up dirt on the Mayor.
Bennett questioned Taylor first, who denied the allegation, before stating that he was calling a former Times reporter and the reporter covering the meeting to testify.
Times Editor Kay Harris objected, as the newspaper was not given advance notice and had no time to obtain legal counsel. She stated that the reporter currently working for the Times could not testify under the circumstances and she questioned what evidence the former reporter could add, as he left the Times nearly a year prior to the publication of the Times series on government travel expenses in September 2010.
Here’s Part 7 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 7 of 8:
Matt Flumerfelt, former VDT reporter, testified.
Attorney Bennett was unable to use the former Valdosta Daily Times Employee against Mr. Taylor and it was handled well by Mr. Taylor. Moreover, it was spelled out by Mr. Taylor’s attorney that the general public has little confidence in local governmental bodies and credibility needs to return to our governmental agencies and that this action could help contribute to the process. We the people are the blessed ones for having a citizens to stand up to elected officials that seems to care little to nothing about local voters.
Bennett was allowed to move forward by the panel and call the former employee as a witness, who testified truthfully, providing no information to back Bennett’s claim that anyone at the Times had taken money from Taylor to investigate Fretti or the city.
Here’s Part 8 of 8:
Mayor Fretti Ethics Hearing cont. with Taylor, Harris, and Flumerfelt Part 8 of 8:
After all this, according to the VDT:
The committee found that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the ethics complaint, and Fretti also still faces the possibility of charges as a result of the GBI’s investigation. Bennett’s antics to distract the committee from the real issue did not work. If the ultimate intention was to scare and intimidate the Times or any other local news outlet from covering issues that might cast elected officials or government employees in a bad light, it didn’t work. Neither did the attempt to discredit the Times. Shame on those who tried.
This entry was posted in Ethics, Government, Valdosta City Council, VCC 2011-06-22 and tagged 22 June 2011, Ethics Hearing, George Boston Rhynes, Georgia, Kay Harris, LAKE, LCC, Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange, Lowndes County, Matt Flumerfelt, Mayor Fretti's Expenses, Roy Taylor, Valdosta, Valdosta City Council on July 1, 2011 by admin.
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