Palmer City Council member rescinds resignation

August 15, 2006

By JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman

PALMER - Tony Pippel won't resign his seat from the Palmer City Council after all.

Last week, Pippel shocked fellow council members when he submitted a letter Wednesday saying he had decided to step down from the council.

On Monday, Pippel submitted a second letter to City Clerk Janette Bower, notifying her of his change of heart.

&#8220I had long discussions with many of my constituents, and they basically convinced me that the problems of the city are better solved with me on the council than off,” Pippel said.

Pippel submitted his original resignation letter the morning after an Aug. 8 city council meeting, which included an executive session afterward to evaluate City Manager Tom Healy.

On Friday, Pippel said his decision was due to &#8220personal sorts of reasons having to do with honesty and integrity.”

When asked if the decision had anything to do with Healy, Pippel said, &#8220No comment.”

Council Member Ken Erbey told the Frontiersman that tempers flared during the closed meeting, causing Pippel to walk out about 10 minutes before they adjourned.

Citing confidentiality of executive sessions, Pippel said he will not elaborate on what occurred at the meeting to prompt his original resignation letter.

Erbey, however, said there was a discussion during the closed meeting about the fact that some of Pippel's projects were not getting completed.

Last week, Pippel said he would consider coming back to the council in the future, but only if conditions changed.

&#8220I still have big concerns, but things have changed somewhat for the better,” Pippel explained Monday.

Despite curiosity from his constituents, Pippel remained tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding his resignation letter. He said City Attorney Jack Snodgrass advised him not to speak about what happened during an executive session.

State law only allows executive sessions for specific reasons that may affect the finances of a public entity, prejudice the reputation of someone, or reasons which by law are not public matters.

&#8220These can be sensitive things,” Pippel said. &#8220The purpose of executive session is to allow for open and free discussion without the public being there.”

Pippel's fellow city council member Brad Hanson said he was pleased to see him back on board.

&#8220I don't always agree with Tony's ideas, but he does provide me with a different perspective,” Hanson said. &#8220Tony is very valuable, and I'm glad he's back.”

Bower said Pippel's resignation never officially took effect because the council did not have an opportunity to vote to accept it. The council was set to vote on Aug. 22, but Bower has removed the item from the agenda.

Voters elected Pippel to office in October 2002 and again in 2005. His current term is scheduled to run through 2008.

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266 or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.