Reinstated Robert Lowery Jr. presses O’Fallon council to make public its report on him
Lowery
O’Fallon City Administrator Robert Lowery Jr. is pressing the City Council to publicly release the investigative report of the undisclosed issues that spurred the council to put him on administrative leave earlier this year.
The council on Thursday night voted 6-2 to reject Lowery’s request - at least for the time being. Some of those voting against the request said they wanted to check with Tom Berry, the attorney hired by the council to do the report, to see if there are any legal ramifications involved in releasing it.
Lowery, who was reinstated Feb. 26 after about a month on forced paid leave, said at the meeting that he believes that he was exonerated by the report but that he has yet to see it.
“Since my reinstatement, questions continue to linger regarding my reputation,” he told the council. ”This is not only disheartening for myself and my family but I also believe that the public has a right to know what transpired and what’s contained in that report.”
Throughout the saga over Lowery’s job status, council members have refused to disclose what they were looking into and what they had determined.
Lowery, a former longtime police official in Florissant, said he believed that a central part of the inquiry concerned his role with a national organization that trains law enforcement personnel to protect children, “especially those targeted by child predators.”
He said he has helped the organization on his own time on the weekends and evenings without any compensation. He has denied accusations by some critics that he violated city ordinances of having a second job on top of his duties as city administrator.
“Never did I believe that volunteering my time to assist a nationally-based group that would help endangered children would become an issue,” he said.
Lowery said during his 30 years of public service, he had amassed “an impeccable and unblemished record of accomplishment” but that his “name and reputation was run through the mud” recently by accusations leveled against him by “a small opposition group.” He didn’t identify who was in the group.
Lowery said he would waive his rights as an employee to keep the report private.
The only councilmen voting to release the report Thursday were Pierce Conley, one of three candidates for mayor in the April 7 election, and Bill Gardner.
Among those voting against the request was Councilman Bill Hennessy, another mayoral candidate. He said he wants to hear from both Berry and the city’s general legal counsel, Kevin O’Keefe, on the issue.
If “they say it’s fine, I’ll say yes,” Hennessy said. “But right now, it’s no.”
At the request of Mayor Donna Morrow, a Lowery supporter, the council also voted to release to the public the total cost of the investigation. That was approved 8-0.
The council also voted unanimously to release the cost of the city’s retirement settlement with former Police Chief Jerry Schulte. Lowery and Morrow had asked Schulte to consider accepting an early retirement deal.
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O’Fallon- the politically corrupt capital of St Charles County
Poor, Robert. I can not imagine that hardships he has had to deal with during these trying times. We must all hope that he carries on in the honorable/noble manner now that he had returned. The citizens of O’Fallon should be pleased to have such a well qualified individual coming from such a great family of such political stock. There is absolutely no one else more well suited to file this position in the United States. Robert is Jesus, drink the cool aid and live for ever and ever…..
It is a sad day when dirty politics can rip into a man’s life and that man does not have the right to know the findings of the investigation!Only in O’Fallon!
If something comes to the attention of the Council, is it not within the pervue of the Council to investigate? Accordinly, the information that was posted on the “company’s” web site indicated he had an “interest” (before it was pulled and changed).
As far as his distinguished career, I have been led to believe that he did not “test out” for any of the positions and that his “daddy” influenced the decisions.
Think of all the money spent as a result of all of the settlements caused by Morrow and company. This is just a drop in the bucket compared to that.
The inuendos put forward by the “journalistic RAGS” are what should be investigated. When honest individuals are pilloried for doing their jobs and not bending over to satisfy them, it is no wonder that concerned citizens view the political scene as they do.
One more thing, Lowery should put up or shut up. If he has info about any illegal acts by a council person, bring it on. If he doesn’t, he is a crook too!!!
You know, looking at Bob Lowery’s picture I noted one key element. If you stuck a joint in his mouth and gave him a hoop ear ring - he would look like SweatMeat from KSHE. ROCK ON BOB!
How much do you think a head like that weighs? 20-35lbs?
If there is a small opposition group against Bob, please sign me up. That group sounds like it has it’s collective head on straight. As for the Bob’s impeccable and unblemished record of accomplishment, this statement certainly underlines his narcissim. This guy is so full of himself that it is amazing. In reality, he LIES to even himself. Of course these lawyers and senior staff are not going to say anything bad about the Bob, they knew in the back of their minds that he may be back. HR has NEVER found a substantiated complaint in their history, except for people the City Administrator wanted to remove. Amazing. As for the lawyers, if they protect Bob, he of course would ensure that they continue with a big fat contract. Do you think Bob, who would be able to get rid of a contract attorney, is going to fire someone who stuck their neck out to protect him, NO, he will reward them by continuing service with them. An outside attorney (with no ties to Bob) should have been used. This City Council needs to wisen up.
As i see it the guy is only asking for the highly public investigation of his reputation be made public. They made a public spectacle of it when they thought he was guilty, now no word of the final results. Hmmmmmmm? Now that the guy was obviously exonerated simply make it public. What’s the big deal? The critics always scream for transparency in government until it become difficult, or it doesn’t meet their petty agendas. This guy is no quitter. i can’t say that for several others……..
Lowery’s reputation never, I repeat never, has been good. Talk to people who work for this clown. Talk to citizens who have knowledge about O’Fallon. Talk to the mayor before she flip flopped. talk to 6 out of 8 of the council members. talk to previous council members. Talk to people who worked for him when he worked for daddy in flo town. Basically talk to anyone but the pig lady and tom.
Now calm down Lyn. You make all these wild characterizations without one shread of proof or anything to back it up. But in fairness, let’s look at this guys character. He was never accused of abusing his family, nor cheating on his wife. Never lost a home or business because of an internet gambling problem. Never target of a single complaint regarding his professional affiliations. He never wasted company time on political anonymous political hatchet jobs. Never accused of threatening his neighbors. His accomplishments are long and distinguished, too many to list here. Well just who is this scoundrel? Thanks for protecting us…..now get a life.