Mayor Brigette Peterson faces criticism and is required to undergo open meeting law training after Gilbert’s Town Council unanimously rejects ethics complaint findings.
Gilbert’s Town Council has unanimously rejected the findings of an ethics complaint against Mayor Brigette Peterson, clearing her of any violations. However, the council has voted to require her to undergo additional open meeting law training. The complaint, filed by Gilbert residents Brandon Ryff and Ryan Handelsman, was one of six ethics investigations reviewed by outside lawyers over the summer. While the other five investigations concluded in September, this particular complaint moved forward with an investigation. The complaint stemmed from an incident in September 2022 when Mayor Peterson directed town security to remove Ryff and Handelsman from a council meeting. The council approved a second investigation in response to the residents’ concerns that the initial complaint had not been thoroughly investigated.
Council Questions Findings of Outside Investigator
The complaint against Mayor Peterson was investigated by Kenneth Fields, an outside investigator hired by the town. In October, Fields released a report stating that there was “no evidence of violations” to various sections of Gilbert’s code of conduct. However, some council members questioned the findings due to the lack of “witness interviews” in the report. Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque, along with Councilmembers Chuck Bongiovanni and Jim Torgeson, requested the report to be reviewed and discussed during a Town Council meeting.
Council Members Express Concerns and Desire to Move Forward
During a lengthy discussion, council members expressed their concerns about the ethics complaint and Mayor Peterson’s behavior and leadership. They emphasized the need to put the complaint behind them in order to focus on addressing the challenges facing the community. Vice Mayor Tilque made a motion to accept the receipt of the report, not accept the findings, and note that the complaint would not be reopened. The motion also required Mayor Peterson to undergo open meeting law training provided by the Arizona League of Cities and Towns.
Mayor Peterson Responds to the Motion
After the motion passed, Mayor Peterson expressed her acceptance of the process and welcomed the findings. However, she also voiced her concern about the appearance of being penalized under an investigation process that she had no involvement in.
Councilmembers Reflect on the Impact of the Ethics Complaint
Prior to the vote, council members reflected on how the ethics complaint has affected the productivity of the Town Council. Vice Mayor Tilque highlighted the responsibility of maintaining audience decorum at council meetings, which falls on the mayor’s shoulders. She questioned Mayor Peterson’s management of meetings during stressful periods and expressed disappointment in her lack of acknowledgment that she could have handled the situation differently. Other council members also expressed their disappointment with the investigation but agreed that it was time to close the matter and move forward.
Complaint Allegations and Request for Interviews
The complaint filed by Brandon Ryff and Ryan Handelsman alleged that Mayor Peterson used her position of power to retaliate against them and leaked confidential information from an executive session. In September, four council members voted to reinvestigate the ethics complaint. The residents requested the investigator, Kenneth Fields, to interview Councilmembers Bongiovanni, Torgeson, and Scott Anderson as witnesses. However, Fields decided not to conduct these interviews, which drew criticism from Councilmember Bongiovanni.
Conclusion:
Gilbert’s Town Council has unanimously rejected the findings of an ethics complaint against Mayor Brigette Peterson but has required her to undergo additional open meeting law training. The council’s decision comes after a thorough review of the complaint and concerns raised by council members. While some council members expressed disappointment with the investigation, they agreed that it was time to put the matter behind them and focus on addressing the challenges facing the community. Mayor Peterson accepted the process and welcomed the findings but expressed concern about the appearance of being penalized under an investigation process she had no involvement in. The council’s decision marks a step towards resolving the ethics complaint and moving towards a more productive Town Council.
Leave a Reply