Court Opinion

ID: 9684171
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 13:49:12.525597+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:53.537061
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 19.] I would affirm the trial court on the basis that “failure of the municipality to comply with any time limitations shall constitute a settlement of the grievance in accordance with the requested remedy,” and on the basis of the trial court’s conclusions of law II, IX, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII:
*208II.
That the action taken by the Edge-mont City Council on May 4, 1998, regarding the appointment of Russell Anderson was done in violation of the Open Meetings law, SDCL 1-25-1.1, and as such the appointment is not valid.
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IX.
That the City, by the Utilities Committee’s failure to act within the prescribed time limitation upon the Plaintiffs grievance following the May 4,1998 City Council meeting, waived its right to contest Plaintiffs grievance.
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XIII.
That McElhaney cannot be removed as Street and Water Commissioner except at the first regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Edgemont, following the general election.
XIV.
That Plaintiff is entitled to the difference between the pay he has received following the action of the City Council on June 22nd and what his pay would have been as Street and Water Commissioner and Utilities Superintendent on the date he is restored to that position.
XV.
That Russell Anderson is not entitled to the office of Street and Water Commissioner and is ousted from such office.
XVI.
That Russell Anderson is not entitled to the office of Utilities Superintendent and is ousted from that office.
XVII.
That Leonard McElhaney is entitled to the office of Street and Water Commissioner and shall be put in possession of that office.
XVIII.
That Leonard McElhaney is entitled to the office of Utilities Superintendent and shall be put in possession of that office.
[¶ 20.] To do anything else would “clearly [be] an unwise waste of judicial resources.”