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City Officials Take FIFTH: Won't Reveal Who Altered Huron Document Used by Summers to Smear Skindell

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 6:52 am
by Brian Essi
Here is the altered document that Summers gave to the PD at an editorial endorsement interview on October 1, 2015 to falsely smear Skindell:

Altered Huron Document.pdf
(958.82 KiB) Downloaded 318 times


Summers, Butler and Bullock are all pleading the FIFTH and won't say who altered the document even though they were all involved in the scandal.

Here is the lengthy email chain that uncovers the sleazy politics and attached way below is the 155 page public records production that Butler buried for 6 months to hide the scandal.

From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Sam O'Leary <sam.oleary@lakewoodoh.net>; David Anderson <david.anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; Ryan Nowlin <ryan.nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; Cynthia Marx <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; Tom Bullock <tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; John Litten <john.litten@lakewoodoh.net>; Daniel O'Malley <daniel.omalley@lakewoodoh.net>; Kevin Butler <kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Hagan <mary.hagan@lakewoodoh.net>; Mike Summers <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 5, 2016 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: Who Altered the Document?

Dear Public Officials,

I never got an answer last night to my 2 simple questions:

I think the public has the right to know who altered the document.

What will Council do about policing misconduct by its own member and monitoring the city's public records process that is being abused?

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi
Cell 216-346-3434





From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Sam O'Leary <sam.oleary@lakewoodoh.net>; David Anderson <david.anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; Ryan Nowlin <ryan.nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; Cynthia Marx <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; Tom Bullock <tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; John Litten <john.litten@lakewoodoh.net>; Daniel O'Malley <daniel.omalley@lakewoodoh.net>; Kevin Butler <kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Hagan <mary.hagan@lakewoodoh.net>; Mike Summers <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Monday, April 4, 2016 9:23 PM
Subject: Huron and a Fabricated Huron Document Used by Summers' Campaign





Dear Councilmembers, Mayor Summers and Mr. Butler,

Attached are:
(1) the public records Mr. Butler sent to me February 3, 2016---records I asked for back on October 5, 2015; and
(2) a scanned copy of the document Mayor Summers gave the Plain Dealer Editorial Board during a mayoral endorsement interview on October 1, 2015.

The email of Huron dated September 29, 2015 at 5:10 p.m. which is part of the Butler production was altered from its original form and substance prior to Mayor Summers giving it to the PD on October 1, 2015.

The original email starts on page 8 -10 of the Butler February 3, 2015 production and Mr. Bullock's original request to Huron is on pages 10-12.

Examples of alterations are as follows:

1. The original Huron 9/29/15 email contained the following introduction:
“Hi Tom,
Please see below for our response (in green)”
2. The adulterated document given to the PD on October 1, 2015 omits the “Hi Tom” and contains the following introduction
Please see below for our (Huron Consulting) response (in red) to Mike Skindell’s campaign statements (underlined)
The body of the email was significantly changed by omitting many words and references to page numbers, changing coloring of words and underlining sections from the original version.

The alterations point to the following concerns:

1. The alteration leaves the reader of the document with the impression that Huron was addressing alleged misstatements by Senator Skindell’s campaign when in fact the statements were made by Save Lakewood Hospital (SLH) on the SLH website and written by Matt Kuhns of SLH all without any involvement by Mr. Skindell or anyone in his campaign.
2. The alterations omit all traces of Mr. Bullock’s fingerprints as the surrogate of Summers who had prompted the responses to be given to Mayor Summers and then given by Mayor Summers to the PD for political purposes.
3. There is no evidence that Mr. Bullock actually shared any of this with his colleagues or the public as Mr. Bullock told Huron he would—he could have easily chosen to copy all Councilmembers on his improper activities but he chose not to. Rather, the only “public” use of the Huron responses (albeit adulterated responses) was that the adulterated document was given by Mayor Summers to the PD editorial board to unfairly discredit Senator Skindell.
4. It would seem that Bullock was is the best position and had the clear motive to perform the alterations and remove traces of his involvement. However, it matters not if he actually did the alterations or Huron or someone else accomplished that task. In fact, if Huron performed the adulterations it would suggest they were acting in a political role rather than as an allegedly independent consultant.
5. It is also worthwhile to note that Huron referred to Mr. Bullock as “Tom” and in contrast referred to Councilman Anderson as “Mr. Anderson” implying that “Tom” (Summers’ surrogate and part of the campaign inner circle) was in a cozy and regular relationship with Huron, i.e. in a position to influence their work and findings. Since Mr. Bullock had already voted for the LOI on LHA's Board, any of his involvement with Huron taints all of Huron's findings. Why was Mr. Bullock at all involved with Huron since he had already voted on the matter?
6. Mr. Butler was copied on these emails and was equally aware of and culpable in the Summers campaign's use of the city's paid consultant for campaign purposes.
7. There are numerous other implications from the activities exposed by the emails.

In summary, the improper use of the consultant for political purposes, the delay in the city producing records, Mr. Bullock’s dishonesty and concealment of his improper use of the Huron consultant for political purposes and the city’s refusal to provide responses to my follow up records requests on the same subject all expose improper conduct by a member of city Council, the Law Director and the Mayor that warrant an independent investigation.

This is but one example of bad government that needs to be cleaned up to restore trust and confidence in our local government.

Will one of you please identify the person who altered the document?

What will Council do about policing misconduct by its own member and monitoring the city's public records process that is being abused?

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi
Cell 216-346-3434






----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Butler, Kevin" <Kevin.Butler@lakewoodoh.net>
To: 'Brian Essi' <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>; "Bullock, Tom" <Tom.Bullock@lakewoodoh.net>
Cc: "Summers, Mike" <Mike.Summers@lakewoodoh.net>; "Hagan, Mary" <Mary.Hagan@lakewoodoh.net>; "O'Leary, Sam" <Sam.OLeary@lakewoodoh.net>; "Anderson, David" <David.Anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; "Marx, Cynthia" <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; "Nowlin, Ryan" <Ryan.Nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; 'John Bodine' <jbodine@huronconsultinggroup.com>; 'Paul Colarusso' <pcolarusso@huronconsultinggroup.com>; "Litten, John" <John.Litten@lakewoodoh.net>; 'Dan O'Malley' <danieljomalley@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 3, 2016 9:15 PM
Subject: RE: Ongoing Public Records Violations to Conceal Political Activity

Mr. Essi, please see attached public records responsive to Item 1 of your request below. I believe this completes our response.

Kevin M. Butler, Director of Law
City of Lakewood | Law Department
(216) 529-6034
kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net

From: Butler, Kevin
Sent: Monday, February 01, 2016 9:33 PM
To: 'Brian Essi'; Bullock, Tom
Cc: Summers, Mike; Hagan, Mary; O'Leary, Sam; Anderson, David; Marx, Cynthia; Nowlin, Ryan; John Bodine; Paul Colarusso; Litten, John; Dan O'Malley
Subject: RE: Ongoing Public Records Violations to Conceal Political Activity

Mr. Essi, we previously responded to Items 2 and 3 of your request below, and we still owe you a response on the first item. We’re working on that now. It’s worth saying that I’m not responding to anything you’ve alleged – that is, anything beyond the scope of your records requests – other than to say I don’t agree with those allegations.

Best wishes,

Kevin

Kevin M. Butler, Director of Law
City of Lakewood | Law Department
(216) 529-6034
kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net


On Oct 5, 2015, at 11:42 AM, Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Dear Director Butler, Mayor Summers and Councilman Bullock,

I wish I could say that I am shocked at the new low that the three of you have achieved.

Attached is a September 29, 2015 email from Huron Consulting to Messrs. Butler and Bullock that Mayor Summers handed to the editorial board of the Plain Dealer on October 1, 2015 in an effort to obtain a political endorsement. I believe the email makes false allegations concerning statements allegedly made by Senator Skindell. It seems clear that Huron Consulting has been improperly used by the three of you for personal political purposes and not in furtherance of any legitimate purpose of City Hall.

Please produce the following public records:

1. All records, emails, letters, and notes of all communications by, among and/or between Kevin Butler, Mike Summers, Tom Bullock, Paul Colarusso and/or John Bodine or any of them from September 1, 2015 through the date of this request including but not limited to the email(s) that Mr. Colarusso was responding to on September 29, 2015.

2. All invoices and time records submitted by Huron Consulting at any time.

3. All engagement letters or contracts with Huron Consulting for any matter.


Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi
Cell 216-346-3434


Re: City Officials Take FIFTH: Won't Reveal Who Altered Huron Document Used by Summers to Smear Skindell

Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:05 am
by Lori Allen _
Brian,
I would think that this kind of behavior would be an ethics violation. I recall someone telling me that Summers has friends on the Ethics Commission, so a complaint to them would be futile. Cindy Marx received a thousand dollar donation from someone from Huron Consulting. Perhaps she should come forward with what she knows. A tip to those of you that request records from the city and don't receive them in a timely manner. You can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office, State of Ohio. Usually they will then contact the city to try to set up a mediation meeting. I believe in the past, most times, the city refused to meet with the requester(s). If you file a law suit, I believe the city must pay you a hundred dollars a day for the documents you requested until they turn them over to you. I don't believe any of the cases that I know about actually went to court. The city turned them over, as they knew they were wrong.

Re: City Officials Take FIFTH: Won't Reveal Who Altered Huron Document Used by Summers to Smear Skindell

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 6:50 am
by Bill Call
Keep up the good work Mr. Essi.

Poor Jimmy Dimora. In a normal environment Summers and company would already be sharing his jail cell.