Rare sighting of the city's Ethics Commission returns focus to Ladd's UEA 2012 "norwooding."

The Gahan administration has a mint condition Ethics Commission, and according to the newspaper's Suddeath, perhaps they're willing to let it be taken it out for a spin.

New Albany Ethics Commission may not have to review past cases

NEW ALBANY — The members of the New Albany Ethics Commission have been chosen, and the group has held two organizational meetings, however, the body may not hear complaints filed over matters that occurred prior to its establishment.

A complaint against a high-ranking administration official wouldn’t be heard if the commission doesn’t review past cases, however, Mayor Jeff Gahan said this week the body should still review the matter as he added he’s confident the body would find “everything in order.”

Specifically, there's the matter of the Bookseller's complaint over the handling of Mike Ladd's ouster from the Urban Enterprise Association.

Local businessman Randy Smith submitted a complaint for the commission to review that cited several alleged violations by David Duggins, economic development and redevelopment director for the city, in his involvement in the firing of former New Albany Urban Enterprise Zone Association Executive Director Mike Ladd.

Why does this "old" news still matter?

Let me phrase it this way: If you lost your job owing to allegations of malfeasance, and there was an opportunity to set the record straight, wouldn't you prefer future employers to view your past record as it was, not as unsubstantiated insinuations have continued to depict it?

Meanwhile, persistent rumor has it that New Albany has a brand new Human Rights Commission parked somewhere out of mind and sight. Perhaps the HRC also will be declared street legal soon, as opposed to something we can feel good about on the city website, but never actually drive.

We have all been here before ...

Ethics Commission receives shovel-ready complaint.

UEA decapitation: Different tactics, same desired outcome, and still just as wrong as before.

ON THE AVENUES: A decapitation, coming tomorrow.

Tweeting the Urban Enterprise beheading, as it happened.

Following are my tweets during yesterday's Urban Enterprise Association board meeting. They're in reverse chronological order. The statement I mailed to board members on Thursday is here, and the statement I read to them on Friday is here.

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Meeting ends #nauea

It has been instructive to watch long serving #nauea board members revise history #insurancesales

Duggins now outlines the post-Ladd era. Firing not premeditated, although plan essentially already written. #nauea

Norrington, Dillman, Norwood, Duggins and Howie vote yes. Streckfus, Bergman and Schmitt abstain. Coffey left mtg. Mike Ladd fired #nauea

Flabby is as second-guessing survivors think flabbily #insurancesales #nauea

Flabby is as flabby thinks. #insurancesales #nauea

I should say that this board will be just fine. I disagreed with Mike on that point. This is ugly, but later, they'll be good #nauea

As board members attempt to be humane, Duggins puts the hammer down: Ladd's numerous deficiencies. #nauea

Always amusing when the guy in charge doesn't know by-laws or the director's contract. Attend meetings, and you know these #nauea

No #nauea vote yet on Ladd. Forgone conclusion.

I need to note: During my tenure at the UEA, now-prez Bob Norwood seldom attended meetings. #justsaying #nauea

Spoiler Alert: Mike Ladd has been terminated as director of #nauea

Motion to terminate made. Some discussion. Howie quite eloquent, and balanced #nauea

Duggins vs Ladd. Not responsive, his benefits and pay. Mostly, it is Mike's fault that the UEA gets strong-armed for "bull crap." #nauea

The Duggins case against Ladd is being made. All about expenditures versus proceeds; small UEA, large expenses #nauea

Approved the two previous bequests, now Mike Ladd is to be decapitated. #nauea

Bergman comes through; speaking time might be granted after all. #hotdog #nauea

This whole affair has been pre-staged; I likely will have no chance to make a public comment until after the vote. #unfairness #nauea

New appointee Streckfus incisive about documentation and the need for better strategizing in shared ventures #nauea

Norwood wants it known that #nauea never sought to see marketing campaign invoices. Howie vouches for it. Much regret all around #fix

Norwood wants a vote on both "outstanding" debts as one #fix #nauea

No one wants to be Sec/Treas (imagine that), so it's Duggins! #nauea

Howie is VP #nauea

In a room of neophytes, Duggins is doing all the nominating. Bergman is selected, then declines. Norwood the wild card here #fix #nauea

Coffey walks out on #nauea, cites presence of "bull crap"

Duggins breaks the silence and nominates Bob Norwood for president, no other nominees. The fix has begun #nauea

Allen Howie is here. That makes all nine members present #nauea

Dan Coffey taking the floor, and it is a thing to behold. DC and Duggins going Mano y Mano #nauea

Not a good sign when two returning board members are already in the conference room before the door is officially opened #ouch #nauea

Because that way, they'll all be compelled to listen to the other side of the story. History does matter, folks. #nauea

Let's just hope there is a physical quorum present, and that the new board is not asked to conduct business by proxy vote #nauea

NA city council still has one appointment to UEA (if there is one) remaining. I can tell you who it will NOT be, LOL #nauea

CM Coffey took some swipes at me, but agreed with what I said. That was fine. Ann Streckfus was appointed by Benedetti. #nauea

Interestingly, last night when I told the council what was up with the UEA, Mrs. Benedetti expressed total surprise. #nauea