City manager: No probe planned following resident's allegations of wrongdoing

From left, City Councilor James Gray, complainant Susan Rice and City Manager Blaine Cox (Courtesy images)

ROCHESTER - A Rochester resident's demands that an investigation be launched into alleged wrongdoing by a sitting city councilor has apparently fallen on deaf ears at City Hall.
During public comment at Tuesday's City Council workshop Susan Rice of Ten Rod Road accused City Councilor Jim Gray of intentional wrongdoing, tampering with pubic records, improper behavior and abuse of position.
Rice spelled out her argument for Gray to be investigated during a 10-minute tirade that spawned from a meeting she had with him in November when she asked him to appoint her to the planning board.
Rice said she was making a formal complaint against Gray, who is chairman of the appointments review committee, for his actions during the Nov. 16 meeting where she asked Gray to let her become a full member of the planning board, which had an opening.
She said Gray led her into an office and closed the door behind her which made her uneasy.
She said once behind closed doors, Gray told her no one becomes a full member without being an alternate first, and when she protested, he began tapping his pen.
"When I did not comply his body posture became aggressive and he used masculine pronouns such as 'he' and 'his,'" she said. "He kept tapping his pen which triggered me and was leaning into me."
When Mayor Paul Callaghan reminded her that her five minutes were up, Gray petitioned the mayor to allow her to finish and talk about another five minutes.
At the end of her speech Rice handed her allegations packet to City Attorney Terence O'Rourke.
However, City Manager Blaine Cox told The Rochester Voice on Thursday "no response is planned to Rice's entreaty and no committee to investigated Gray's alleged wrongdoing is contemplated.
Cox also said he was aware of no "prohibitions" that would prevent any resident from accusing any city official of wrongdoing during pubic comment.
Gray said on Thursday he would have no comment on the matter.