Maureen Feeney's statement on Chuck Turner

Here's the statement she read today on the Turner situation:

Good afternoon.

I would like to take this opportunity to make a brief statement to the media and then take your questions.

As you know, on Friday, a member of the Boston City Council was arrested and arraigned on federal charges of bribery and lying to federal investigators.

No indictment has been issued and the Councillor maintains his innocence.

However, the seriousness of these charges and the suspicion they bring, demand certain actions in order that this body forcefully affirm its good name.

On Friday, I temporarily removed Councillor Turner from his committee assignments, including his chairmanship of the Committees on Education and Human Rights, pending further investigation.

Today, I asked to convene a special meeting of the Boston City Council for the sole purpose of outlining our options, under law, and to establish our process moving forward for any such circumstance.

It has become clear to me that Councillor Turner and his supporters are prepared to turn this session into something that it is not. This body is not, and will not become, a stage for political theatre.

I am announcing now that the discussion scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today is postponed.

I understand that Councillor Turner has also requested that we cancel this session. I appreciate his concerns about due process. It was never my intention in our meeting today to move for any discussion, debate or vote on the Councillor's fitness to serve.

This council is not a court of law. It is not our role to find guilt or innocence. It is however both our right and our responsibility, under City Charter, to judge the election and qualification of our members.

These actions and the discussion they have sparked, are unprecedented for this body. It is important that we be clear, thoughtful and transparent in our decision making process, whatever course of action we decide.

Today, I will empower the City Council Committee on Rules and Administration, of which I am chairperson, to investigate these questions of qualification and to report back to the full body. The committee will draw on all available resources, including the mechanisms already established by the State Ethics Commission.

I believe it would be premature for this body to take any decisive action today on Councillor Turner's future. We will take no action based on a mere arrest. Should the Grand Jury issue an indictment, the Committee on Rules will appoint a special independent fact finder to submit to the body findings of fact and to make a recommendation on further action.

I have instructed Corporation Counsel to provide us with a full legal review of our potential actions under law, mindful that the Council reserves its right to take no action. I will make a copy of their memorandum available to members of the press.

- We may call for resignation by council resolution
- We may vote to censure a member
- We may, under section 17 of the City Charter, judge the councillor "unqualified" to serve

Again, let me emphasize that at this time, it would be premature to take any further action.

Additionally, under the power granted to me by City Council Rule 36, today I will create a Special Committee of the Council on Ethics. This new committee will focus its efforts not on the actions of an individual councillor, but will look intently at broader reforms aimed to ensure that the city and its elected leaders operate with the highest standards of ethical behavior. Next week, I will announce further details on the scope and composition of this committee. We must -- and we will -- work hard to restore the public's confidence in their elected leaders. They deserve no less.

I would like also to respond directly to certain allegations that I or my office shut down Councillor Turner's access to his office or his constituents. This is untrue. No agent of the Boston City Council took any action to restrict the Councillor's access to phones, computers or to his office. My interest is to ensure that the residents of City Council District 7 continue to receive representation and access to city services.