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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Totten says Ferguson Didn't Offer Sufficient Guidance

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Former City Manager Terry Totten taking the stand at the defamation trial of John Ferguson this (Wednesday) morning. Totten telling the court that from 2004 onward he made numerous requests for guidance on how to handle the pension problem—particularly on whether they wanted to raise contributions or raise taxes--but was brushed off.



Totten said John Ferguson used high pressure tactics and never seemed satisfied with the answers to his questions when they sat on a work group together. The court saw an email in which Totten wrote, “I'm not clear what you expect of me, councillor Ferguson. I'm being blatantly honest. I need your help to get my act together on this.”

Totten further testified his reccomedations to council on the city's pension woes weren't heard, saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink” Lawyer Barry Morrison asked, “The horse here being common council?” to which Totten replied, “That's exactly right.”