Alderman Kramer Adds Details to Closed Session Votes on Monday

After reading the previous article on Maplewood-Brentwood Patch about the Brentwood Board of Aldermen’s votes on recouping losses due to Chris Seemayer’s mismanagement, Ward 4 Alderman Tom Kramer contacted Patch to fill in some details.

There were two motions voted on in the closed session Monday.

Kramer said the first motion was recommended by counsel, which was to “not limit the scope of investigation or possible claims on any or all items included within the Missouri state audit.

That was to be researched and given to the bond agency and the city’s insurance carrier.

“The first motion was not limiting, and that went to a 4-4 tie and the mayor abstained,” he said. “That would have included Chris Seemayer as well as any other things that would have been found inside the audit.”

He said the second motion was “extremely limited in scope, just to the topic of Chris Seemayer.” He said that motion was made against the advice of the city’s legal counsel.

“We’re not allowed to go into the advice of our legal counsel, but there’s a reason why so many people voted against that motion,” Kramer said. “It was 5-3 because we received specific legal advice against that.

“A lot of thought went into both of these votes,” he said, “and also a lot of advice went into both of these votes. It’s important that the aldermen take the legal advice of our counsel very seriously. Ignoring it can be at high consequence.”

Kramer wanted it to be clear that the $30,000 Brentwood lost to Seemayer’s embezzlement was repaid. These votes had to do with what the city lost due to his mismanagement.

From the city website, the minutes of the closed session:

Personnel

Alderman Toohey made a motion to accept the recommendation of McMahon Berger; that the city send the state audit report to the insurance carrier asking that they forward it to the bonding agency to review. Motion seconded by Alderman Robertson. ROLL CALL: Alderman Harper – no; Alderman Wynn – no; Alderman Robertson – no; Alderman Kramer – yes; Alderman Toohey – yes; Alderman Leahy – yes; Alderwoman Manestar – yes; Alderwoman Saunders – no; Mayor Kelly – abstain; MOTION FAILED.

Alderwoman Saunders made a motion to file a claim on Seemayer’s bond directly with the bonding agency. Motion seconded by Alderman Harper.ROLL CALL: Alderman Harper – yes; Alderman Wynn – no; Alderman Robertson – no; Alderman Kramer – no; Alderman Toohey – no; Alderman Leahy – no; Alderwoman Manestar – yes; Alderwoman Saunders – yes; MOTION FAILED.