Actions

Fired City-County Council clerk back on the job with new president

Posted at 12:42 PM, Feb 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-20 14:13:45-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- With a new president at the helm of the City-County Council, the fired staffers are coming back to work. 

City-County Council Clerk Natrina DeBow returned to work Tuesday. She was fired Jan. 31 by then-President Stephen Clay. Monday night, Clay stepped down and Vop Osili became the next president. 

The other staffers, Fred Biesecker and Sa’Rita Hughes, are returning this week. 

The firings led to a lawsuit from DeBow and several other councilors. A partial settlement was reached in that lawsuit last week. 

PREVIOUS | Indy City-County Council President Stephen Clay steps down after six weeks amid controversy

TIMELINE

  • Jan. 8 - Stephen Clay elected council president. He unseated Maggie Lewis in a 14-11 vote. All Republicans on the council voted for Clay except for Jeff Miller and Brian Mowery
  • Jan. 29 - Democrats took a no-confidence vote in Clay's ability to effectively lead. They argued Clay "deceived members of the Democratic caucus," and struck deals that amounted to "quid pro quo" maneuvering
  • Jan. 31 - Clay fired two high-level council staff members: Clerk of the Council NaTrina DeBow and General Counsel Fred Biesecker
  • Feb. 6 - Clay announces a financial and operational audit of the council office. He says he found shredded documents and uncovered evidence of improper pay raises given to DeBow and the deputy clerk of the council, Sa'Rita Hughes. DeBow's attorney held a press conference later that afternoon stating she didn't know any files were missing, and the raises were justified
  • Feb. 7 - Democrats expelled Clay from their caucus
  • Feb. 8 - Eight members of council and DeBow file a lawsuit against Clay, alleging he broke state law by firing the Clerk of the Council and General Counsel
  • Feb. 16 - Council agenda for Feb. 19 meeting publicly released. The proposal allowing discussion and vote to remove Clay from presidency not listed. New proposal postpones discussion and vote on Clay's removal by sending the measure to the ethics committee.
  • Feb. 19 - Clay announces he will step down as president prior to council meeting
  • Feb. 19 - Clay resigns as City-County Council President and Vop Osili is elected as the new president. 

MORE TOP STORIES | IMPD: Woman threw feces at Menards employee | Family of Muncie toddler who died after flu diagnosis wonders if flu shot could have saved her | Center Grove High School student dies in Greenwood crash with animal control officer | Parents, students on edge after rumored threats, incidents at Carmel High School | State police identify Kokomo man killed in officer-involved shooting in Wabash County

Top Trending Videos