NKyTribune staff
The Covington Professional Firefighters, I.A.F.F. Local 38 has received some of the emails from the City of Covington that it requested back in September.
I.A.F.F. Local 38 acknowledged receipt of the emails, but declined to comment further, citing a pending investigation and Covington’s upcoming mayoral and city commission elections.
Incumbent Sherry Carran and former state legislator Joe Meyer are the candidates for mayor, and there are seven candidates, including two incumbents, for the four city commission seats.
The Union issued the following statement:
The Covington Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 38 is pleased the City of Covington has turned over a portion of its open records request, specifically emails sent by the city manager to the mayor, and emails sent by the city manager to the fire chief.
The union has found several emails to be troubling, but wishes to comment no further. At this time, Local 38 continues to cooperate with the city in facilitating the release of more requested emails. It is not Local 38’s intention to publicize or jeopardize investigations into the content of the emails, especially given the election for mayor and city commission just a few days from today.
It is not clear from the statement whether the union is referring to its own investigation or if there are other investigations pending.
The Union filed an appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office when it did not receive the emails in what it considered to be a timely fashion. The Attorney General’s office has not yet indicated whether it has launched, or is considering, an investigation.
On Sept. 16, I.A.F.F. 38 filed the open records request seeking emails between public officials of the City of Covington that were sent in August and September, 2016.
The firefighters union indicates the City of Covington responded within the three days, as required by law, but stated it would not be able to provide the actual emails before February, 2017.
The Union then reduced the number of emails it requested, but said five weeks later, the City still had not complied, prompting I.A.F.F. 38 to file the complaint with the Attorney General’s office.
“The non-production of Local 38’s open records violates KRS 61.870-KRS 61.884. The process used by the city unduly delays production of said records, thus frustrating public policy, and the public trust in open and transparent government,” the Union said in its complaint.
In an Oct. 25 post on I.A.F.F. 38’s Facebook page, Union President Mike Lee was critical of the City of Covington’s position:
“The City’s failure to comply with this request is unacceptable. This administration claims to value open, transparent government but yet fails to follow one of the most important parts of Kentucky’s transparency laws,” said Lee, President of I.A.F.F. Local 38. “Local 38 should not have to file an appeal to the Attorney General to compel the City to live up to its obligations. The excuses are pitiful and barely pass the smell test. This is simply a delay tactic by the City, and it raises the obvious question: what is the City hiding?”
I.A.F.F. posted the updated information on the status of the City of Covington’s response to the email request on its Facebook page Wednesday.
There are responses on the latest Facebook post requesting that the emails be released prior to the election, but there is no indication I.A.F.F. 38 plans to change its stance on the issue.
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