Saturday, January 23, 1999
Lebanon workers told not to speak to media
City manager issues gag order
BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — A day after The Cincinnati Enquirer sued City Manager Richard Hayward and council members, Mr. Hayward issued a gag order to employees.
No city employee is permitted to speak to the news media about any matter without authorization, according to a statement of policy Mr. Hayward sent Thursday to all department, division and bureau heads. All media calls should be referred to the city manager or the city attorney, the statement said.
One councilman considers the statement bad public policy.
“I don't think much of issuing an edict of not talking to the press,” Councilman Mark Flick said Friday. “That looks like you're trying to hide something. I don't think that's fair and honest to the people.”
Council members Amy Brewer, John McComb and Jim Reinhard declined to comment Friday. The other members could not be reached.
The Enquirer filed suit Wednesday in Warren County Common Pleas Court, claiming city council violated its charter and the Ohio Open Meetings Act when it held an executive session during its Jan. 12 regular meeting. The city's charter states: “All meetings of council shall be open to the public.”
The newspaper is asking that any action taken during the executive session be declared invalid, and that city officials distribute minutes of what was discussed.
The Enquirer lawsuit prompted the new policy, Deputy City Manager C. Ed Patterson said Friday. Mr. Hayward decided Wednesday to take three weeks off for sick leave, Mr. Patterson said Friday. In the interim, Mr. Patterson will serve as acting city manager.
Mr. Patterson said another reason for the order is to gauge how many media calls the city fields each day. City officials are considering creating a new position that would focus on marketing and public relations, he said.
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