Aldermen City Hall Key Cards Don’t Work / Mayor Asks Why They Need To Get In the Building

By Pauline Masson – 

Aldermen experienced a new level of administrative muddle last Wednesday when two aldermen, Scott Lesh and James Cleeve, asked why the key cards that they had been issued to open the city hall doors didn’t work – or, when they would be working.

Presumably the key cards were issued so aldermen could enter the building when it was not open to the public. But when Lesh and Cleeve asked when they would be working Mayor Heather Filley said the police department was in charge of building security and was handling the key card  project. 

When Lesh asked if he could have a hard key, Filley said only the police chief could answer that.

“You have to refer that to the police department because they’re the ones who handle the security of the building in off hours,” Filley said.

“I’ve been coming up here for three weeks to get my packets. I can’t get in there to get them. I want a key. So do I have to make a motion for it. Or if I can get an answer, when?” Lesh said. “What is the process for getting a hard key?”

Chief Melies offered an alternative, but no key.

“We can certainly put your packet down (in the police department) on communication so you can access it 24 hours a day.” Melies said.

Rather than ask the obvious question of why the police chief would determine aldermen access to the city hall building, Lesh offered a more conciliarity answer. He said said aldermen might need to get in the building for other reasons as well.

Melies’ answer shed new light on the issue.

“I think that’s a decision for some committee or something,” Melies said.

What committee or something the chief referred to was unclear and Lesh did not ask the chief to clarify.

Instead, Lesh said he thought it was an issue for the board of aldermen to determine whether they wanted to get hard keys so they could gain access to the building as allowed.

But Cleeve countered that he would not favor a hard key. Being an IT technology professional, he said key cards were the way to go.

“I don’t understand why the key card problem. It’s just a directory listing with our numbers on it. It shouldn’t be difficult for a company to update the directory of people,” he said.

Lesh made a motion that key cards would be working as soon as possible, which Cleeve seconded. But when the mayor called for the vote, Cleeve had second thoughts. He said as “soon as possible” was too wide open and he asked for a specific time line of when the cards would be working.

Lesh said he was leaving the deadline soon as possible unintentional but Cleeve said it shouldn’t take months to get key cards working.

“I seriously don’t know what’s going on but key card systems don’t take months to do something with, Cleeve said. “I don’t know what they’re doing. I do that for a living and its easy stuff.”

Lesh suggested the board ask the chief, or whoever needs to program the cards, to get back to the board with a date when they could expect to have working key cards.

The mayor interrupted, saying there was a motion on the floor that called for key crds as soon as possible. Lesh and Cleeve amended the motion to say aldermen would have an answer “a week from today either we have our key cards working or we know when they will be working.”

At this point Mayor Filley introduced her question for the first time. Rather than address the question of aldermen access to the building, she asked what she would ask several more times, why did they need to get into the building.

 “I do have a question and I’m just curious,” she said. “What is the need to be in the building other than to pick up packets not during business hours. And I’m not talking on a meeting night. I’m just curious what is another need to be in this building after hours.”

Cleeve offered an answer.

“When we get here for an open house and the doors are locked that would help, I mean would have helped,” he said.

“And that’s why I said it’s a curiosity question because I know, for me personally, I don’t want to be in this building after hours unless someone else is around,” she said. “For me it would be too eerie and quiet .But that’s my personal opinion.”

Cleeve said he preferred to come in through the back door, which required a key card – or a key.

“I enjoy coming in the back, it’s convenience for me,” he said.

Lesh said he was still trying to figure it out,

“As I said when we come in, when I have my packet left in the back that section requires a key and whether I’m coming at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, or 6 o’clock in the evening or on Saturday to pick it up, I need to get in the building.”

Filley said she asked the question because Lesh had indicated that he would like to have access to the building for other reasons than to get his packet.

“I was just trying to determine what those other reasons are,” Filley said.

“If I said other reasons, sorry.” Lesh said. “There are two reasons I come here for meetings, no, three reasons, meetings, talk to staff and pick up the packet.”

‘So that’s why I was asking why after hours. If it’s the packet it was pointed out could be placed down stairs, which is possible 24/7,” Filley said. “We all could get our packets that way if they are not  being delivered to our homes

“I’m just a little confused,” Lesh said. “I mean aren’t we granted access to this building?”

“I know. I’m asking a curiosity question,” Filley said. “As I said because I personally don’t know of any other reason to be in this building except for packet pickup meeting with staff and meetings.”

“I’ve addressed when I need to be in this building let’s leave it there,” Lesh said.

After every comment, rather than address the request for working key cards or keys or aldermen access to the building, Filley returned the question of why they would want to be in the building.

“That’s fine,” she said to Lesh. “It was simply a curiosity question that’s all because, as I said, I don’t know of any other reason to be in this building after hours because again you said for other reasons.”

Lesh said wanted to make a motion that Chief Melies get a date when key cards would be either working or the chief would know when they would be working. Cleeve seconded the amended motion.

“By a week from today either we have our key cards working or we know when they will be working,” Cleeve said. “Is that something to do, Chief, to tell this company, please let us know or tell us when.”

Chief Melies did not answer.

Rather than call for a vote, Mayor Filley asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

“Did we vote on the keycard” Cleeve asked. He repeated the motion that, by July 12, aldermen would have working key cards or know when they would have them.

The motion was approved with a 5-0 vote. Alderman Presley was not present.

I have to tell you . . . the only reason for reporting this embarrassing discussion , which was more housekeeping than city business was: 1, It hurt to watch; And 2, I have a question. What is the need for the mayor or police chief to lock the aldermen out of city hall and require them to go to the police department to pick up their mail?

I’m just curious.