Whistleblower complaint aimed at Langley mayor

Just four months into the job and another major controversy has landed on freshman Langley Mayor Larry Kwarsick’s doorstep.

Having only just come up for air after the brouhaha over his recent and sudden removal of a truck loading zone on Second Street, Kwarsick is now the subject of a whistleblower complaint related to his time as city planner.

The issue will be discussed in executive session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, at City Hall.

A special notice posted on the city’s website Thursday listed the reason for the secret meeting as a personnel matter. However, Hal Seligson, a city councilman and mayor pro-tem, confirmed the subject matter centers on a whistleblower complaint.

He declined to go into further detail, saying only that the complaint was received and that the council acted quickly to give the employee an opportunity to go over their issues without any threat of retaliation.

When asked whether the public should be concerned, he said it’s still too early to tell and that one of the purposes of the meeting is to learn more information.

“I think we need to gather all the facts before we make an assessment,” Seligson said.

While the councilman remained tightlipped about the nature of the issue, sources have confirmed that a memo was sent to council members that details the complaint and Kwarsick’s involvement.

While the exact accusations are still unclear, the matter reportedly relates to Kwarsick’s time as director of Community Planning and decisions made concerning his stepdaughter’s home.

Kwarsick was not able to be reached in time for this story despite messages being left on his cell phone and at his office at City Hall.

 

Contact South Whidbey Record Island County Justin Burnett at jburnett@whidbeynewsgroup.com.

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