HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-02-2003 Memo to Council Regarding IncidentMEMO -- -
• From: Denise Leskinen
RE: Jay Nygard incident on Friday May 2, 2003
On Friday morning I answered an incoming call. The caller asked for Ron Moorse, I told
him that Ron was in a meeting but I could give him voice mail. The caller stated:. "this is
councilmember Nygard, get him out of the meeting I need to speak with [Ron] right
now." I put the call on hold and interrupted the meeting. Ron asked me to tell Jay that he
was in a meeting and could not be disturbed unless it was an emergency. I relayed that
message to Mr. Nygard, he stated that "[he] is an elected official of this City, if Ron will
not take his call than [Jay] will just come down there and speak with him or sit in on the
meeting." I spoke with Lin about the phone call and discussed the best way to handle the
situation should he actually show up here and Ron was still unavailable.
Jay Nygard did show up a short time later. Ron was still in a meeting and could not be
disturbed. I told Jay that Ron was still unavailable but he was welcome to wait. Jay
stated that he had better things to do than wait, he wanted to see Ron right now. I told
him that I was sorry but I could not interrupt the meeting unless it was an emergency.
Jay stated "[he] is an elected official of this city and that [he] had every right to speak
with Ron right now ". I had told him no less than four times that I could not interrupt
Ron unless it was an emergency, I asked him if he could tell me the nature of the
emergency, he went on to insist that I either get Ron or he would go find him himself and
sit in on the meeting. He made a point of saying that "it's not you, it's all me ", in other
. words that it would not be me interrupting the meeting but him. At this time there was a
gentleman from MND OT who was waiting for Ron and Jay had his little daughter with
him, although he did not raise his voice or become outwardly disruptive, it was obvious
to me that he was not going to take no for an answer. Rather than stand there and debate
with him I asked him to wait a moment and I went to consult with Lin about what to do.
Lin came out and took Jay outside to speak with him (by this time there were people
coming out of a meeting with Lyle). A few minutes later Ron came out to speak with
Jay, before he left [Jay] thanked me for "putting up with him ".