Pat Coyne's Appointment Makes Minor Waves at Meeting

A move to return Councilman at large Pat Coyne to committee leadership almost went by unmentioned at Monday's City Council meeting, but a Strongsville Republican made sure it didn't.

John Motley, secretary and ward leader for the Strongsville Republican Club, criticized Council President Mike Daymut for allowing Coyne to serve on council committees.

"Awarding appointments to a member under suspicion of corrupt and unethical behavior is the equivalent of sanctioning this behavior and an insult to the good citizens of our city," Motley said during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Coyne was removed from all committees in September by former Council President Mike Gallagher after he was implicated in the ongoing Cuyahoga County corruption probe. Hinckley developer David Terry pleaded guilty to giving four $5,000 bribes to a Strongsville councilman who also worked for the Cuyahoga County Coroner's office.

The councilman was not named, but the description could refer only to Coyne, who is a Democrat.

Coyne, who has not been charged with a crime, has denied wrongdoing but has not commented beyond that.

Motley applied earlier this year for the Ward 4  council seat vacated by Gallagher.

Daymut did not announce his committee appointments on Monday, instead referring to a packet he sent to other council members last week.

"Those stand as my appointments for the committees," he said.

The only indication Coyne was on a committee was on the agenda, where he was listed as the chairman of the Recreation and Community Services Committee.

Daymut said after the meeting he didn't see a reason to keep Coyne from serving on committees as long as he was still a councilman.

"He's been a functioning member of council," Daymut said.

Law Director Ken Kraus took exception to part of Motley's speech in which he called for City Council to "investigate the allegations of corruption and ethical behavior" against Coyne.

Not valid, said Kraus, who said the FBI is -- and should be -- handling the probe, not council.

"This council has a right to defer to the proper authorities," said Kraus, a former federal prosecutor.

Coyne did not offer a comment on the matter. 

Not all the committee appointments were tense. A happy Ward 3 Councilman Mark Roth thanked Daymut "for doing a professional job with the committee appointments," which included a committee chairmanship for Roth.

Roth, who has not chaired a committee in two years, will oversee Public Service and Conservation.

"I think because I tell the truth, I've been an object for dirty politics," he said.

Daymut said he considered each council member's strengths and requests when deciding the committee appointments.