GREENE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE

The charges against Bangor City Councilor Richard Greene will most likely ultimately be resolved in a court. But in the court of public opinion, the verdict is in. Whether deservedly or not, Mr. Greene has lost his credibility with city residents and more importantly his ability to serve constituents is gone. It is time for him to resign.

If the evidence prosecutors say they have against him is false or the result of a misunderstanding, and Mr. Greene is finally acquitted of the charges, he could seek a return to office. But the cloud hanging over him has become a distraction in city business, and with a trial date set for April at the earliest, he remains unable to fulfill his responsibility to the city’s residents.

Some may have misunderstood the charges against Mr. Greene, who was also a former mayor, and concluded that Bangor City Hall is a loose ship. Not so, says Susan Hawes, the council’s chairwoman. The short version of the story is that Mr. Greene who operates a photography business allegedly submitted three invoices for services. The city never requested nor authorized the services, the work was never completed, and Ms. Hawes points out that the city’s internal system of checks alerted officials to the questionable nature of the invoices.

The invoices that totaled $19,000 sought “usage fees” for the public display of photo portraits Mr. Greene made of Bangor’s mayors; fees for restoration work on the mayoral portraits; and payment for a portrait of Councilor Hal Wheeler, elected in November. One of the invoices, prosecutors say, included the forged signature of City Manager Ed Barrett. No payment was made on the invoices, which is evidence that financial controls work, the city’s Finance Director Debbie Cyr said.

Mr. Greene denies the charges against him. But the terms of his bail keep him from having contact with city officials. This keeps him from attending council and committee meetings, which means Mr. Greene is not able to work for his constituents.

Public officials must clear a higher bar than the “innocent until proven guilty” standard. And they must be able to do their committee and council work. If he cares about the fate of the city as much as he claims, Mr. Greene should step down and let someone else serve.