Openness in Ellsworth

Four of Ellsworth’s city councilors want to fire City Manager Tim King. They have called for a special meeting of the City Council at 7 p.m. today in the council chambers in City Hall. But they aren’t saying what they have against him.

Two of the other members of the seven-member council are outraged. Larry King, no relation to Tim, said,

“I would like to hang four councilors up to dry. This is not the way to run the business of the city of Ellsworth.”

Bob Crossthwaite said, “What we’re talking about is process. It’s a lynch-mob mentality.”

Speculation around town is that the four want to punish the city manager for having opposed a moratorium proposed last fall on development in Ellsworth. Mikki Sumpter, executive director of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, said she considered the moratorium issue and now this new controversy divisive and troubling for local business. She urged businessmen to attend the Tuesday night meeting.

The growing local tempest recalls an effort 20 years ago to fire the widely respected chief of police, Albert Carter. Several councilors took offense when he objected to their demand to ride around town at night in police cruisers. They also resented his department’s raid on a high-stakes cribbage game in a tavern operated by one of the councilors. Such an uproar erupted that the meeting had to be moved to the high school gymnasium. In a stormy session, the crowd strongly supported Chief Carter, and his job was saved.

The four councilors should bring their case into the open. The meeting should be open to the public. And, considering the likely size of the crowd, the city should consider moving the meeting to a larger hall – maybe to the gym at the new high school.