From: Bob DeWeese

Columbus

Received: July 10

Let me make sure I have this straight because surely I’m missing something. Former Fire Chief Gary Henderson has been placed on paid administrative leave and must go before the Board of Works for a hearing because he used money obtained during the disposal of fire department motor oil to buy soft drinks and coffee for the fire maintenance facility (which is where, I assume, the oil was obtained).

Really? That’s it? You’ve got to be kidding me. It is hard for me to imagine a more trivial matter. This sounds like a witch hunt to me. Why is the city really going after Gary Henderson? If Mr. Henderson has a lawyer, I’m sure lawyers are being employed by the city as well.

I would also bet that the city has racked up more than $1,800 in legal bills because of this action. If anyone is guilty of being irresponsible with public funds, I would judge it to be the City of Columbus.

And if Gary Henderson wants the hearing to be open, why not? In fact, if no decision is going to be made based on the behind-closed doors hearing, what is the purpose of that hearing? I’m actually quite surprised that the mayor who ran with a campaign promise of openness in her administration is insisting on a closed hearing, when the accused wants it to be open.

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