Roseland Clerk/Treasurer and Council Members Battle Each Other in Court

by Samuel King (king@wsbt.com)

Tools

Roseland Town Council Treasurer Clerk Cheryl Gridley Court Snyder Penn Shields

Roseland Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Gridley and Town Council member David Snyder wait outside a courtroom Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 8, 2007 at 4:26 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2007 at 11:30 AM EST

(WSBT) Another day, another court hearing about Roseland. The town wants Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Gridley to be found in contempt for not doing her job. Gridley is suing Town Council members, claiming they're trying to kick her out of office and interfering with her duties.

Multimedia

Watch The Video

Judge Michael Scopelitis did not make a ruling on the contempt charge because there are still witnesses to be heard on both sides. Gridley testified Thursday she is indeed doing her job and doing everything she can to keep the town financially afloat.

“There's no contempt, I don't think she's in contempt,” said Anna Hearn, Gridley’s attorney. “She did provide information received, just because they don't like the information received doesn't mean she didn't answer the questions.”

Gridley's attorney Anna Hearn, has also filed two separate contempt of court motions: one against council member Ted Penn, the other against Charley Shields and Town Attorney Michael Lipsky.

She says Penn illegally went into Gridley's office to remove documents in violation of a court order.

In the other motion, she says Shields and Lipsky did not immediately give her a check that would have helped settle a lawsuit.

“A third grader could tell you, they want you to pay $50,000 and there's only $45,000 in the bank account, you can't do it,” Hearn said. “It's not possible.”

A frustrated Judge Scopelitis repeatedly urged the attorneys to “get to the point” and not continue to waste taxpayers’ time and money.

Both sides have decided to continue with the cases, even though Gridley's term expires in less than two months. Her attorney says Gridley offered to drop her contempt of court motions if the other side would drop theirs. They did not.

Incoming Town Council member Robin Ackerson says she hopes the new year can provide a new beginning for the town.

“I think there are difficult problems awaiting the new clerk/treasurer just in unraveling the events that have happened,” Ackerson said. “We have not had a financial report in two years. As a resident, I think that is unconscionable.”

Gridley, of course, disputes that claim. The next hearing will be held in a little more than two weeks.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

Current Temp 35.2

More Weather

WSBT Weather

More Weather

On Demand

iPhone
Get the WSBT News and Irish Sports Report apps for your iPhone! Read more »
On DVD
Order a DVD of a WSBT news story! Read more »
Twitter
Follow us on Twitter! Read more »
Facebook
Connect with us on Facebook! Read more »
WSBT E-News
Daily StormTracker e-mails right to your Inbox! Read more »
Video On Demand
Miss a story on WSBT News? Watch it here! Read more »
CBS Shows
Watch CBS shows and news online, free! Read more »
WSBT Alert
Breaking News & Weather right to your cell phone! Read more »
Mobile
WSBT News on the go for your cell phone or PDA. Read more »
RSS Feeds
Get news and updates as soon as they're published. Read more »

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.