“Tyrannical Council” – reason given for another resignation from Carthage City government
CARTHAGE, Mo. — New developments in Carthage, as City Attorney Nate Dally and Administrative Assistant Dorothy Weber resigned in the wake of last night’s (4/12) city council meeting.
In her resignation letter, Weber said the following:
Dear Greg, Traci, Dan and MM,
It is with a heavy heart that I am submitting my resignation. My last full day, with your approval, will be July 1, 2024. It has become apparent to me that the newly elected council is only interested in weaponizing the very government and laws that they have sworn to uphold. I refuse to work in an environment that breeds fear based on vendettas and retaliation by whatever perceived slight the CCU and the newly elected City Council decide to get offended by. I will not be controlled by a tyrannical Council masquerading as civil justice warriors.
I have truly loved my job and everyone that I’ve worked with. This has by far been the best working experience that I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of. Thank you for choosing me. I hope that I’ve done right by you all. You’ve all been such a blessing in my life.
I promise that I will continue to do my job to the best of my ability until my last day and I will make myself available after my last day to help my replacement with a smooth transition.
Thank you all so much!!!
Respectfully,
Dorothy (Dot)Carthage Administrative Assistant, Dorothy Weber
During Thursday night’s special city council meeting (4/11), council members requested the resignation of Mayor Dan Rife and voted to terminate the employment of City Administrator Greg Dagnan. The vote to fire Dagnan passed, 7-to-2. However, the debate quickly turned to whether or not the city council had the power to dismiss Dagnan without the mayor’s consent.
For his part, Rife says he will not resign, and he will not fire Dagnan.
| Special City Council Meeting Takes Place In Carthage >
“Our city works under Rosenberg’s Rules of Order. There is a clear motion called ‘appeal’ in which the body can choose to overrule a motion that’s made by the chair, in this case the mayor. We did that. We lawfully dismissed Mr. Dagnan,” said Councilmember, Tiffany Cossey.
“This has already been researched by several attorneys. They all agree that the charter says the mayor must concur. I never felt at any time tonight that I wasn’t employed, even though I know there’s a different opinion, I never felt like that,” said City Administrator, Greg Dagnan.
“I don’t agree with what’s going on, and I’m not going to turn the city over to folks that I feel like have not the best interests of the city in mind,” said Mayor Dan Rife.
Following the vote to dismiss Dagnan, the council met in executive session for about 90 minutes. When they returned to council chambers, a motion was made to hire three separate municipal legal experts, and seek their opinion on what takes precedence — the city’s charter or the city’s municipal code.
Last week, after the new council members were elected, council member David Armstrong submitted his letter of resignation. Earlier this week, Alan bull resigned from the “planning and zoning committee.”
However, newly elected council person, Lori Leece, continues to question the reason for wanting Dagnan fired. In Thursday night’s council meeting, Leece said she watched every council meeting and has looked at every document she could get her hands on. She said she could find nothing he did that was illegal or wrong.
Leece and city councilman, Chris Taylor, were the sole votes against the members of Carthage Citizens United who are trying to oust Rife and fire Dagnan. They also got their wish, and today, Dally resigned.
Council member Alan Snow told the city, Leece, and the other council members that Dagnan had “lost their trust.”
