{"id":1544,"date":"2017-04-04T08:44:33","date_gmt":"2017-04-04T13:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1544"},"modified":"2017-04-04T08:44:33","modified_gmt":"2017-04-04T13:44:33","slug":"meiers-attacks-on-a-planning-and-zoning-commissioner-evidence-a-dangerous-escalation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1544","title":{"rendered":"Meier\u2019s Attacks on a Planning and Zoning Commissioner Evidence a Dangerous Escalation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meier\u2019s Attacks on a Planning and Zoning <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Commissioner Evidence a Dangerous Escalation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By: Susan M. Halpern<\/strong><\/h3>\n

(Addison Councilmember 1992-1999)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Todd Meier recent attacks against a member of Addison\u2019s Planning & Zoning Commission are unprecedented, and evidence a dangerous escalation of tactics by this brazen politician.<\/p>\n

Meier has inappropriately politicized P&Z during his unfortunate tenure, including by trying to control how it votes. It started when Meier and his cadre rejected the longstanding practice of allowing each council member to appoint a P&Z commissioner of their choosing. \u00a0First, Meier took the previously open appointment process and moved it into secretive executive sessions, away from the public eye.\u00a0 This allowed Meier and his cadre to reject proposed appointments who Meier perceived would not \u201cfall in line.\u201d\u00a0 Meier then filled P&Z with individuals who he perceived would obey his wishes.<\/p>\n

When Meier lost control of the council as a result of the election of Councilmembers Duffy, Walden and Angell in May 2016, the council started taking the appointment process back. That didn\u2019t sit well with Meier, who did what he always does when anyone disagrees: he attacked the new councilmembers, never explaining the history or the problems inherent with his power grab and effort to control P&Z.<\/p>\n

With that background, we now consider Meier\u2019s recent conduct towards P&Z Commissioner Stacey Griggs. Here\u2019s what happened.\u00a0 Addison\u2019s Planning and Zoning Commission considered the AMLI development in January 2017.\u00a0 Prior to the P&Z meeting, Griggs met with Addison\u2019s attorney, Brenda McDonald, as well as Addison staff member Charles Goff.\u00a0 The subject was whether Griggs\u2019 employment with Post Properties presented any issues regarding her participation in consideration of the AMLI matter.\u00a0 McDonald concluded that Griggs had no conflict and therefore was free to participate in P&Z\u2019s consideration of the matter.<\/p>\n

So, Griggs participated in the January P&Z meeting. And, as it turned out, Griggs was one of four votes in favor of the AMLI development.<\/p>\n

Within days of the P&Z meeting, Meier supporters penned a letter accusing Griggs of having a conflict. The letter contained misstatements and false information, including with respect to Griggs\u2019 duties at Post Properties.\u00a0 After receiving the letter by email, Meier forwarded the letter to Griggs\u2019 employer.\u00a0 Meier failed to disclose the meeting Griggs had participated in with Addison\u2019s attorney, or the fact that the attorney had cleared Griggs to participate in P&Z\u2019s consideration of the matter.<\/p>\n

Make no mistake about this: Meier had no legitimate reason for sending the letter to Griggs\u2019 employer. Oh sure, he claimed in his email that he didn\u2019t want Griggs\u2019 employer to be \u201cblindsided.\u201d\u00a0 But tell me what that would have looked like?\u00a0 Where and how would Griggs\u2019 employer have been \u201cblindsided?\u201d<\/p>\n

That question can\u2019t be answered, because the suggestion is nonsense. Meier\u2019s clear intent was to cause harm to Griggs by suggesting to her employer that Griggs\u2019 conduct had been inappropriate.\u00a0 And, to thereby send a message of retribution to Griggs.\u00a0 In other words, this was Meier punishing Griggs because she refused to bend to Meier\u2019s imperialistic will.\u00a0 And the truth is, we\u2019ve seen this same tactic from Meier again and again.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t agree with Meier you are punished.\u00a0 It is selfish, inappropriate and unprofessional, but Meier doesn\u2019t care.\u00a0 Nor is it of any concern to him that his tactics have caused deep harm to Addison.<\/p>\n

A week after his efforts to interfere with Griggs\u2019 employment, Meier continued his attacks on Griggs at the council\u2019s February 14, 2017 meeting. During the council\u2019s consideration of the AMLI development, Meier interrogated the AMLI representatives and attacked them for having contacted P&Z commissioners prior to the January meeting.\u00a0 Meier focused on Griggs in particular, despite efforts by the AMLI representatives to indicate that they had contacted ALL P&Z commissioners and councilmembers.\u00a0 And, that they had done so at the suggestion of, and with the encouragement of Addison\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n

Meier\u2019s conduct at the February 14, 2017 meeting was unprofessional and utterly disgraceful. If you haven\u2019t watched it, you should.\u00a0 But you should also be upset and concerned about his attacks on a P&Z commissioner because of the way she voted.\u00a0 That is dangerous precedent and decidedly anti-democratic.<\/p>\n

During the public comment section of the council\u2019s March 28, 2017 meeting, Griggs\u2019 husband and fellow Addison resident Phil Griggs spoke about Meier\u2019s intimidation tactics. Griggs\u2019 statement was forceful and articulate, and it is important for all Addison residents to review and consider.\u00a0 Griggs talked not only about Meier\u2019s attacks on his wife, but also about Meier\u2019s attacks on mayoral candidate Joe Chow and the Addison Midday Rotary.<\/p>\n

Wherever your politics may take you, Meier\u2019s conduct and intimidation tactics have to be of deep concern. The attacks on citizens who have stood up to Meier are anti-democratic.\u00a0 And, the efforts by a sitting mayor to compromise the independence of a P&Z commissioner are particularly inappropriate and contrary to Addison\u2019s Charter.\u00a0 It is time for Addison\u2019s residents to reject such tactics.<\/p>\n

Our Town is at a dangerous tipping point. While it will be difficult to recover from the harm Meier has caused during his six-year reign, we have a chance to do so by electing a council that will deliberate in good faith, putting their own egos aside in favor of what is best for Addison.\u00a0 2017 could bring us a new day in Addison.<\/p>\n

I urge that we must seize this opportunity to return to the Addison Way.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n