Now that Councilor John Tabor and the City have spilled the beans on Tabor’s advising Anne Weidman to delete “McIntyre ‘jottings’ in case of subpoenas,” we have a few questions.
City Statement
Here’s the statement the City had prepared on March 18, 2024. By the way, Tabor didn’t make his statement at the City Council meeting until late in the night of the 18th. So, it would seem as if this statement had to have been prepared by the City prior to the City Council meeting that evening.
City Statement on Tabor Advising Anne Weidman to Delete Emailed Correspondence
In fact, we might also guess that this issue was covered in the nonpublic session prior to the City Council meeting that evening, so the City Council was prepared by the City ahead of time.
And we might further guess that the City was working overtime during the prior few days to make sure it was prepared legally for the potential fallout from this matter.
Inquiring Minds
Here are just a few questions that inquiring minds might ask:
Regarding Anne Weidman, we understand that she is good friends with City Manager, Karen Conard. Weidman serves on the Economic Development Commission. Her training is as a landscape architect, so we are not sure what she might bring to any discussion pertaining to McIntyre. The email Tabor sent to Weidman advising her to delete correspondence was sent on April 4, 2023.
- Why was John Tabor communicating with Anne Weidman about anything to do with McIntyre?
- What were the dates of the correspondence that needed to be deleted?
- What was being discussed in these emails?
Tabor has a history of mishandling nonpublic information. In 2021, we know that Tabor reportedly leaked nonpublic and confidential information from the McIntyre Subcommittee to Councilor Cliff Lazenby, who was employed by a competitor of developer Redgate Kane and SoBow Square.
In 2022, Tabor revealed nonpublic information from an Audit Committee meeting, revealing the renewal of auditor Melanson’s 26-year contract and the rejection of a new auditor, CLA. He avoided any consequence to these lapses in judgments.
- How will the current lapse in judgement be handled by the City?
- Shouldn’t this at least be considered an ethical matter?
- Might the City or the State consider removing Tabor from the City Council?
- Or will this all be swept under the rug along with his past transgressions?
Tabor has offered to have his electronic devices forensically examined to confirm that no emails were deleted.
- Who will hire the firm to examine these devices?
- Who will pay the firm?
- What processes will be followed in conducting the forensic examination?
- Will Weidman’s devices also be examined?
- Will City Manager Karen Conard’s devices be examined?
- Will other City Councilors be subjected to similar reviews?
Regarding any involvement by other City Councilors, we know that Mayor Deaglan McEachern served on that same McIntyre Subcommittee and may have been aware of what Tabor was doing. We also heard that McEachern just renewed his URL, www.deaglanforcongress.com.
- Isn’t now the time for Mayor McEachern to establish a squeaky-clean record if he might be interested in political advancement?
- Who else should have their electronic devises reviewed forensically?
Tabor has been advised to retain his own attorney.
- What is the attorney’s name and with which law firm is the attorney affiliated?
- Who is paying for this attorney?
- Is Tabor being reimbursed for any of these legal fees?
These are just a few questions that have arisen as we review this situation in a preliminary fashion. More will likely follow.
Public Trust
We think it is interesting that this matter has so quickly faded from prominent position on the Herald’s and Seacoastonline’s sites. We wonder (perhaps another question) how these publications plan to cover this matter going forward given Tabor’s career-long connection with both publications. What editorial policy has been adopted to make certain the issue is given the attention it deserves?
Source Featured Image: startribune.com
