Another mayoral nomination questioned

Another nomination by Mayor Mike Houston to a city commission raised eyebrows from aldermen Tuesday night. Council members held an ordinance in committee to approve the appointment of Michael Geiger, a former Springfield deputy police chief, to the Police Community Review Commission.

Several aldermen questioned the choice of Geiger, calling it a conflict of interest to name a former police officer to the commission. The council also heard concerns about Geiger’s role in an incident in 1999 where a Springfield police officer was accused of battering a man during an off-duty party at a north-end tavern.

Houston told aldermen Tuesday he approached Geiger because of his experience. He also said he thought Geiger would be able to judge issues based on the facts.

A number of aldermen disagreed.

“(Geiger) knows two-thirds of police officers and certainly the command staff,” Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin said Wednesday. “Therefore, he may be in a compromised position when it comes to evaluating the cases because of personal friendships.”

Not the first time

Two years ago, Houston withdrew his nomination of Kirk Robinson to the Police Community Review Commission. Robinson served as police chief for about six months in the early 1990s under then-Mayor Ossie Langfelder before resigning in the midst of sexual harassment allegations he disputed.

Also shortly after his election, Houston’s first choice for corporation counsel, Tom Kelty, withdrew his name from consideration after being questioned about his background that included more than two decades of financial difficulty and professional turmoil.

After Kelty withdrew his name, Houston tapped Mark Cullen to be the city’s top lawyer. Cullen resigned July 19 in the wake of a police internal affairs file-shredding scandal.

Aldermen still haven’t approved Houston’s appointment of Bob Braasch as administrative services manager at City Water, Light and Power, even though he’s been on the job in an acting capacity for more than a year.

In defense of the appointment, Houston has pointed to a study by Maximus Consulting Services that recommended filling the position.

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Different approach?

McMenamin said Houston would have a better track record if the appointment process were more open. He said aldermen usually don’t learn of Houston’s choices before they are listed on the council agenda. Even then, he said, the appointees rarely appear before aldermen.

McMenamin also said he thinks the city could do a better job of advertising openings on boards and commissions to the public. “We have huge talent and lots of interest in public service, and let’s draw from a larger pool,” McMenamin said.

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