The Community Recorder published an online article Thursday night on the Martin “records barbecue”. While we can be critical of other media outlets, we believe the reporter did a pretty good job of spelling out the very serious problems Martin is now facing. The best part though was Martin’s cloying version of what took place. Evidently the mayor consulted a Grade F “spin doctor” to develop a comment. Not surprisingly, it was dreadful.
“It wasn’t my decision. But I’m not going to point any fingers because the buck stops here.” The Civic Club Piltdown Men and Women, members of St. Joe’s Heavy Drinking Men’s Society and a smattering of other hillbillies, cat-haters and religious fanatics will probably think that sounds pretty good. There is one problem. It is a COLOSSAL LIE.
As The Martin Chronicles has reported, Martin was contacted about the document burn by the public works director on the afternoon of January 5. The mayor instructed the public works director to proceed with the destruction of city records. There is a sworn statement to that effect. Therefore, it absolutely was Martin’s decision. To say otherwise is ridiculous.
Besides, can any reasonable person believe for even a fleeting second that the interim city clerk who has been willing to go so far as to violate Kentucky Open Records statute rather than risk upsetting "CEO" Martin by releasing documents prior to mayoral review would suddenly get the wild notion to burn a bunch of documents in the middle of a serious lawsuit without the mayor’s approval? If you do buy that, a civic club membership is in your future.
When Martin was twice asked at the January 12 caucus if all the burned records were properly documented he unequivocally answered “yes”. The online article portrays him as a tad less certain. “I think so. But I can’t be sure.” The reality? Both of Martin’s comments are lies.
All the burned records were not properly documented. We have solid evidence that Martin actually doctored up the alleged documentation on the afternoon of January 6 in a bungling attempt to cover his tracks. This after Martin was unsuccessful in getting the police chief or public works crew to reveal what was recovered by law enforcement. Furthermore, Martin knows full well exactly what was burned. We also have solid evidence that he is the one who picked what documents that were to be destroyed.
It's funny that Martin’s comment about not pointing fingers actually does point the finger directly at the interim city clerk. Martin did that intentionally. He is setting up the interim city clerk to be the patsy. The Recorder article correctly points out that the records cookout could rise to the level of a Class D felony. Martin obviously prefers the thought of the interim city clerk in deep legal trouble instead of him. It appears they may both end up there.
