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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2005 Doyle: Dyal should quit or be fired Former city attorney blasts city manager in speech to City Council; Dyal not at meeting, not commenting By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune In an unscheduled presentation Thursday night, Medford’s former city attorney demanded that the City Council fire or request the resignation of City Manager Mike Dyal. "I owe it to you, as my former client, and to the taxpaying citizens of this city, to publicly call for his resignation or his termination as your employee," said Ron Doyle, who retired as city attorney in April. Dyal was not present at the meeting. He was unavailable for comment late Thursday, his wife said. Doyle filed a tort claim (intent to sue) for damages against the city of Medford in September because, like most city employees, he is not offered a health insurance plan that extends into retirement. Similar tort claims have been filed since then by other retirees from the city. Doyle acknowledged the complexity of his request given that he used to represent the city. Advertisement "The city of Medford is my former client, and you, Mayor Wheeler, and you, council members who represent the 70,000 residents of the city, are my former client. Mike Dyal, city manager, is not my former client." Doyle referred to a conversation he had with Dyal in 2001, where Dyal mentioned discontinuing health insurance coverage of retirees. He said when he told Dyal that what he was planning to do violated both the city’s adopted resolution and state law governing retiree health care insurance, Dyal said he didn’t care what the law said and the city was not going to spend one dime on retirees as long as he was city manager. Furthermore, Doyle claimed, Dyal said if the city attorney wouldn’t do it, he’d fire him and find a lawyer who would support him. "I am here tonight to apologize for not having the guts to resign in protest that very day," said Doyle. "I know that this council never repealed its resolution adopting the state law requirements on continuing retiree health coverage." Doyle said Dyal has hurt over 300 city employees who will have no retiree insurance. "And he has intentionally and illegally exposed you, my former client, to lawsuits and damages to be paid by your constituents, the taxpayers of this city." Retired police officers Shirley Peters Kammel and Chuck Steinberg also spoke during the oral requests portion of the meeting, and asked the council to change the insurance coverage so that retirees are given the option of buying into the city’s insurance plan. Medford City Councilman John Statler asked what the proper procedure was in response to a request to call for the resignation of the city manager. John Huttl, city attorney, said that employee discussion matters are typically subject to an executive session, so Statler made a motion for such an executive session to be scheduled. Council members Claudette Moore, Greg Jones, Bob Strosser, Jim Key voted for such a session along with Statler, while Skip Knight and Jim Kuntz did not. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail Doyle: Dyal should quit or be fired ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Salvia Divinorum Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s