<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> 1:32 p.m. Joplin City Council declines to hire outside investigator

May 22, 2008 02:33 pm

— The Joplin City Council will not seek an outside investigation to look into allegations against Jon Tupper.
A motion by council member Bill Scearce to hire an outside investigation rather than proceed with a public hearing in which city employees might be called to testify died Thursday for lack of a second.
The motion included a call to investigate what the council has said is the leak of a confidential report obtained from an outside attorney earlier in the case. The council has shielded that report as attorney-client privilege.
Council members Phil Stinnett and Mike Woolston spoke about affording Tupper an opportunity to confront his accusers.
City Attorney Brian Head said the right to confront accusers is a criminal right and not a due process guarantee in a civil case.