November 24, 2008 Feeney: Action against Turner postponed Play video

(NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Boston City Council President Maureen E. Feeney held a press conference this afternoon regarding the City Council's response to the recent charges against Councilor Chuck Turner.

The City Council has decided not to take immediate action against Turner, who is charged with taking a $1,000 bribe. A special meeting to discuss the future of the five-term councilor has been postponed.

Feeney said it was never her intention to have the council vote on whether to oust Turner or ask him to resign at the meeting. Instead they were only to discuss what legal options they had.

Feeney said she is asking the rules committee to investigate further what those options are. She also expressed concern that Turner supporters might have disrupted the meeting.

Feeney said Turner maintains his innocence.

Turner is charged with one count of attempted extortion and two counts of making false statements for allegedly accepting the cash from an undercover agent working with the FBI.

He has been released on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

*The following are the prepared remarks of Boston City Council President Maureen E. Feeney during a 1:00 p.m. press conference at Boston City Hall*

Good afternoon.

I would like to take this opportunity to make a brief statement to the media and then take your questions.

As you know, on Friday, a member of the Boston City Council was arrested and arraigned on federal charges

No indictment has been issued and the Councilor maintains his innocence.

However, the seriousness of these charges and the suspicion they bring, demand certain actions in order that this body forcefully affirm its good name.

On Friday, I temporarily removed Councilor Turner from his committee assignments, including his chairmanship of the Committees on Education and Human Rights, pending further investigation.

Today, I asked to convene a special meeting of the Boston City Council for the sole purpose of outlining our options, under law, and to establish our process moving forward for any such circumstance.

It has become clear to me that Councilor Turner and his supporters are prepared to turn this session into something that it is not. This body is not, and will not become, a stage for political theater.

I am announcing now that the discussion scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today is postponed.

I understand that Councilor Turner has also requested that we cancel this session. I appreciate his concerns about due process. It was never my intention in our meeting today to move for any discussion, debate or vote on the Councilor fitness to serve.

This council is not a court of law. It is not our role to find guilt or innocence. It is however both our right and our responsibility, under City Charter, to judge the election and qualification of our members.

These actions and the discussion they have sparked, are unprecedented for this body. It is important that we be clear, thoughtful and transparent in our decision making process, whatever course of action we decide.

Today, I will empower the City Council Committee on Rules and Administration, of which I am chairperson, to investigate these questions of qualification and to report back to the full body. The committee will draw on all available resources, including the mechanisms already established by the State Ethics Commission.

I believe it would be premature for this body to take any decisive action today on Councilor Turner’s future. We will take no action based on a mere arrest. Should the Grand Jury issue an indictment, the Committee on Rules will appoint a special independent fact finder to submit to the body findings of fact and to make a recommendation on further action.

I have instructed Corporation Counsel to provide us with a full legal review of our potential actions under law, mindful that the Council reserves its right to take no action. I will make a copy of their memorandum available to members of the press.

- We may call for resignation by council resolution - We may vote to censure a member - We may, under section 17 of the City Charter, judge the councilor “unqualified” to serve

Again, let me emphasize that at this time, it would be premature to take any further action.

Additionally, under the power granted to me by City Council Rule 36, today I will create a Special Committee of the Council on Ethics. This new committee will focus its efforts not on the actions of an individual councilor, but will look intently at broader reforms aimed to ensure that the city and its elected leaders operate with the highest standards of ethical behavior. Next week, I will announce further details on the scope and composition of this committee. We must -- and we will -- work hard to restore the public’s confidence in their elected leaders. They deserve no less.

I would like also to respond directly to certain allegations that I or my office shut down Councilor Turner’s access to his office or his constituents. This is untrue. No agent of the Boston City Council took any action to restrict the Councilor's access to phones, computers or to his office. My interest is to ensure that the residents of City Council District 7 continue to receive representation and access to city services.

I will now take some of your questions.