The City of Maricopa Police Association filed a lawsuit in Pinal County Superior Court yesterday against the Maricopa City Council and City Manager Kevin Evans for violating the city’s meet-and-confer ordinance.
The ordinance was established in 2008 by the city of Maricopa to allow an employee or their representative to meet and confer with the city manager regarding wage, hours, benefits and other conditions of employment.
The ordinance prohibits any contract discussion with the city or news media from the time negotiations begin until the date and time set for hearing before the City Council.
“Evans met at least three times with the City Council to discuss the contract negotiations,” said Martin Bihn, a Phoenix-based attorney representing COMPA. “This is a clear violation of the city’s ordinance.”
The suit cites two e-mails between Evans and COMPA President Aki Stant, including one in which Evans states he needs to prepare a counter to the proposed contract between the city and the police department and take it back to Council for an executive-session review.
In addition, the complaint includes a City Council agenda that details the group adjourning to executive session with the city manager to discuss the contract.
COMPA originally brought these concerns to the City Council’s attention and requested mediation in August, but according to Stant, the city refused, claiming that COMPA “gave permission” for Evans to violate the ordinance.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Stant said. “As police officers, we are trained to uphold the law; COMPA never agreed to allow Evans to violate this ordinance.”
The special-action lawsuit seeks a court order compelling Evans, the city of Maricopa and its Council to comply with the provisions of the meet-and-confer ordinance.
“We want the negotiation process to start anew,” Bihn said. “There has been no movement on the contract that is now five months late.”
“It’s sad that the city’s taxpayers will pay the price for city officials who think they are above the law,” Stant said. “Hopefully, the lawsuit will bring some accountability to city management.”
City Manager Kevin Evans declined comment.
File photo
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