Mason City City Attorney Tom Meyer is resigning his position, effective September 2, 2011.
“I have notified City Administrator Brent Trout that I am resigning my position as City Attorney. My last day of work will be September 2, 2011 and I will use my vacation time for 2011 after that date.”
Meyer says he has enjoyed his time at City Hall.
“I have enjoyed serving as City Attorney the last 8 years.”
Currently, charges of retaliation filed by Meyer against City Councilman Max Weaver are pending as an investigator peruses the evidence and takes interviews.
Meyer’s plans for the future were unknown. It has been said that Meyer has other opportunities possibly at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse.
Meyer has been involved in some controversies at City Hall. For example, when he supported Mayor Eric Bookmeyer in eliminating the “public forum” and “other business” sections of City Council meetings.
According to a Globe Gazette article dated May 1, 2010, “Mayor Eric Bookmeyer consulted with Meyer before deciding to eliminate the public forum and ‘other business’ portions of City Council meetings.” NorthIowaToday.com was told this was a very unpopular idea with other Council members, City Hall staff and the public. Eventually, the public forum portion of the meeting was brought back by Bookmeyer, under pressure from the public.
“I’m shocked” Councilman Don Nelson said about Meyer’s resignation. “I wish him well.”
Nelson says Council will need to determine a full time attorney or go back to a part-time attorney and who will run human resources.
“We have no idea why (he resigned). It’s strange,” Councilman Jeff Marsters said. Marsters also said he would consider the City going back to a part-time attorney, saying the City operated that way for years. “We hire a lot of outside attorneys to do the work too.”
Marsters also mentioned that it was an odd time for Meyer to resign, considering that Meyer has a complaint pending against Weaver. “Where does that go?” he said.
Councilmember Travis Hickey said “It’s kind of shock, I haven’t had time to digest it. It will be interesting to see what other council is looking at, a part time city attorney and full time human resources person? I don’t know.”
Asked for comment, Max Weaver said “No comment.”
