MILTON — The state attorney has cleared members of the Milton city council of possible Sunshine Law violations following an investigation, which closed on May 25.
Jimmy Messick, a former Milton city councilman, requested the state attorney investigate following a February council meeting in which newly appointed councilwoman Heather Hathaway made a motion similar to a motion made by councilman Jeff Snow in May of 2017. Both sought to give council the power to hire and fire city contract employees.
Messick said he had requested security video footage in which he says he witnessed council members engaging in possible hallway conversations which he believed included pending official council matters, a Sunshine Law violation.
Gregory Marcille, chief assistant state attorney, wrote in a press release that based on their review, there was insufficient evidence to establish any crime had been committed. He said that as part of the review, investigators interviewed numerous witnesses and examined documents and video evidence.
In a letter to Messick following the ruling, Marcille wrote, “While you have raised concerns about possible hallway conversations, there is no evidence that any pending matters were discussed. Likewise, a reasonable explanation has been given as to why language used in a motion by council member, Heather Hathaway, was similar to that used by different council member at a previous meeting.”
Messick said that his request was not an allegation of guilt but rather a request to see if there was evidence of violation of law on the members’ part.
“I have to accept what the state attorney came up with” he said.
"Unfortunately, Jimmy and Theresa Messick, for political purposes, filed a frivolous Sunshine Law complaint against the Milton City Council," councilman Snow said. "It truly was a waste of time and tax payer dollars of our State Attorney's Office and their resources. I believe this was done as a distraction and an attempt discredit the current Milton City Council, who are working very hard on moving Milton forward."
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: State clears city council