PITTSBURGH -- It looks like a city controversy might be coming to an end and your tax dollars will be paying for it.

---

Bob Mayo's Blog: Q-and-A: The Mayor On The McNeilly Settlement

---

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl confirmed a planned $85,000 settlement from the city of Pittsburgh to police Commander Catherine McNeilly.

But that's only part of what it's going to cost to end her whistleblower lawsuit.

The settlement would close the books on a court case that could have seen past and present Ravenstahl administration officials testifying under oath about why McNeilly was demoted.

The city has always argued McNeilly was disciplined for e-mailing personnel data, not for speaking out.

In January, Ravenstahl wanted to keep up the fight when a federal judge ruled McNeilly was a whistleblower speaking out in good faith about "allegations of wrongdoing and improper and undue influence by officials within the mayor's office in police department matters."

"I'd be more than willing and able and actually welcome the opportunity to give my testimony and the folks what we did," Ravenstahl said on Jan. 11. "I've been very upfront and honest with all you folks from the very beginning and will continue to do so."

McNeilly's allegations concerned Dennis Regan, who has since left the mayor's office and who the mayor said did nothing illegal.

But now the mayor's office confirmed he's asking City Council to approve paying $85,000 to McNeilly to settle her whistleblower, First Amendment lawsuit.

"It was in the best interest of the residents of the city and the taxpayers," said Ravenstahl. "It was in my interest, not to line, further line, the pockets of attorneys and pile up legal fees at the expense of taxpayers. So, we felt it was fiscally prudent to settle this case and move on."

The deal includes Ravenstahl acknowledging city employees' free speech rights.

Sources said those legal bills are expected to far exceed the payment to McNeilly.

"I can't speculate on that at this point," said Ravenstahl. "I really don't know."

City Council will discuss the issue only behind closed doors.

"If we go in and have a big argument in City Council, some things may be said at the table that can be used by counsel in this case or other cases to come back to haunt us and cost the taxpayer more money," said City Council President Doug Shields.

The judge reversed McNeilly's demotion in January.

She and her lawyers refuse to comment on the lawsuit settlement Monday, but they're expected to face the media on Tuesday.

---

Related Links:
More County News

Get RSS | E-Mail Alerts

---