THE DECISION IS IN

The decision this morning was 7-0 to deny Chief Denison's attorney, Steven Houze, a motion to delay. The Commission then went ahead as scheduled with a vote of 7-0 in favor of all 21 counts as recommended in the final investigative report. That means that the Commission found Don Denison used his position for financial benefit eleven times in violation of ORS 244.040 and failed to notify the City of a conflict of interest ten times in violation of ORS 244.120. The Commission will now decide what kind of financial penalty will apply. The maximum is $1,000 per offense, or $21,000 but this will be negotiated for a final settlement. Our only request is for an admission of wrongdoing on Denison's part and an apology to the City. A personal apology to Mary Johnson and Mr. Neal for setting his attack dog, Linda Palmer on us would also be appreciated. We are proud to have stayed to the issues at hand and to have never stooped to mean-spirited personal attacks on the Chief. We respect his position and are sorry that his actions have brought unfavorable attention to our town. We now have an opportunity to face the future with a commitment to open government and high ethical standards or go back to the stonewalling and cover-ups that have plagued Toledo for the last several years.