Ethics Complaint Against Lee Turner

Freaky Friday
Ripp Report Sept. 25, 2015

TO: Tom Albritton, Director, Alabama Ethics Commission
FROM: The Ripp Report/Baldwin County Legal Eagle - Francis Paul Ripp
RE: Ethics Complaint – Fairhope City Government

Dear Mr. Albritton:

The former acting director, Mr. John Carroll, received a letter from Fairhope City Attorney Marion Wynne requesting an opinion of the Ethics Commission as to whether Mr. Lee Turner, Chairman of the Fairhope Planning & Zoning Commission and President of the Single Tax Corporation, was serving under a conflict of interest.

The letter does not accurately advise the Ethics Commission as to all of the facts surrounding both positions. The Single Tax Corporation owns a considerable amount of property in Fairhope and Planning & Zoning issues are common. To simply say that you recuse yourself from that possible vote does not dilute the power of the position Mr. Turner holds. Further, the City of Fairhope is constantly engaged with the Single Tax Corporation on joint financial projects throughout the city in the construction of sidewalks and other infrastructure improvements, etc.

These issues come to Planning & Zoning first and then Single Tax Corporation is involved with approving Planning & Zoning decisions—all overseen by the same individual—Lee Turner. Further, a member of Planning & Zoning, Mr. George Robards, has garnered public contracts on a regular basis with the Single Tax Corporation. The same public contracts had to be approved through Planning & Zoning, where Mr. Turner is presiding. The Fairhope Single Tax Corporation’s tenants have had nothing to say about the awarding of these contracts even though it involves their personal property.

I read recently your quote “Everything I do is with an eye toward getting the answer right and applying it consistently.” I ask you for a formal opinion from the commission regarding Mr. Turner’s dual position within the Fairhope City Government as well as Mr. Robard’s dual position as a member/contractor.

This is nothing new in the City of Fairhope. The Ethics Commission has been used by the Mayor and the Council to cover up these types of conflicts of interest. I do hope that you put an eye towards this issue—and getting the answer right—and applying it consistently across the State of Alabama.

Sincerely,
Francis Paul Ripp