Aide

work session that Densmore had cleared Kidd of breaking any laws. So the current investigation, Bodker said, is “a review of the information by somebody who could competently identify any concerns as it relates to a violation of the charter or ... any city policies.”

As for what happens to Kidd, Bodker said: “The rest will be shaped on the information I get back from the investigations.” Bodker added that the results will be presented to the council.

Councilwoman Stephanie Endres said she didn’t like the process and wants the council to run the inquiry.

“It’s disappointing that you’re leading the investigation,” she said during the work session before Bodker interrupted.

“I’m not leading the investigation,” he said.

Endres said it seemed so because Bodker is the one who laid out the rules. She showed council members a draft resolution that would put them in control of the inquiry, but it was not accepted.

She agrees with the blog post that Kidd was doing opposition research on a sitting councilman, Chris Coughlin, who was just reelected.

“That’s a big no-no, especially since you were made aware that this was happening in the spring,” she said to Bodker, who confirmed Coughlin and Endres had both brought that up to him.

Endres said the situation is more serious than just a rogue employee.

“It actually goes to a council initiative,” she said.

Bodker said they might need to update the employee policy on these matters, but he said he doesn’t want to stifle political affiliation of employees.

“We may not agree on which candidates we support or don’t support, but we have every right to do what we want to make that happen as long as we don’t break any other rules in the process,” he said.