Commentary; Posted: 4/5/06
McCaskey hearing not on solid ground
By Cliff Buchan
More times than not, when it comes to Clyde McCaskey of Forest Lake, we find ourselves on opposite sides of the fence. But in the matter of his possible dismissal from the Forest Lake Planning Commission by the city council, we will come to his defense.
Not surprisingly, McCaskey has been a lightning rod for controversy over a proposal for an affordable housing complex on the grounds of the former District Memorial Hospital campus, just a stoneís throw from McCaskeyís home. He has drawn that lightning bolt as a commissioner who opposed the plan and as a citizen who distributed a questionable flier opposing the housing plan and then joining a citizens group that brought suit against the city after the plan was approved.
Some eight months after the neighborhood flier raised flags, city leaders on Monday will convene a hearing at 6 p.m. to consider charges against McCaskey and the possibility of booting him off the commission. The hearing, at McCaskeyís request, will be open.
It is unfortunate this issue didnít come to a head sooner and that the mayor, a member of council or city staff did not simply admonish McCaskey for his behavior last summer.
It is not totally clear that McCaskey is being handled as a public person but the basis of the charges seems to indicate so. From what weíve learned, the charges take exception with the reprinting of a city public hearing notice that was part of the flier he distributed. The appearance of a city document is troublesome to the city and rightly so.
He is also being charged with distributing information that the city terms false and inflammatory and that his actions have done harm to the city and created the impression that the city opposes affordable housing.
Those are some pretty heavy weights to dump on one fellowís shoulders. McCaskey may have been out of bounds with the flier but it is puzzling how his actions, which he says were taken as a private citizen, can be called to task as a member of the public body.
Is no one serving on the planning commission, park board or human rights commission entitled to have opinions on topics that impact the city? How about the council itself? Is there no room for opinions that conflict with the city council?
Weíve always understood that the powers of a planning commissioner flow from the city council and mayor where the appointment to terms is handled.
Now that McCaskey is in the crosshairs of the city council, he is being forced to wiggle in the wind as charges unfold. He has been forced to retain an attorney at his expense.
Deep city pockets have stood behind the full city council with a legal defense fund when it came under legal challenges over the hospital site decision.
But the same standing does not apply to a member of the planning commission who is out of favor.
At a time when the city is yet to resolve its legal issue with the developer of the affordable housing project and come to some agreement on damages the city may pay, one can only wonder if McCaskey is the one held up for the blame and a public flogging. Is it right in essence to hold up one person for blame? Is there no other blame to share here?
And when it is the city council that is forming the so-called charges, there is little to wonder if the verdict has not already been reached.
The hospital site issue for all practical purposes has been put to rest. Some legal complexities remain but it should not be long until the housing project gets under way and the charter school starts its expansion.
We would rather see the city moving ahead on a positive front and not occupying itself in the negative past.
And it is such efforts that will only result in what the city claims McCaskey has already done ó harm the cityís reputation and produce publicity the city could do without.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605