It’s ‘very ugly right now.’ Argyle mayor under fire for releasing confidential report
Argyle mayor Bryan Livingston is facing a no confidence vote after several council members accused him of violating attorney/client privilege.
The Town Council will consider the no confidence vote during a specially called meeting at 5 p.m. Monday, 308 Denton St.
Livingston is accused of releasing confidential information involving an investigation into allegations that he created a hostile work environment last June that led to the resignation of the former town secretary.
A report conducted by an outside law firm cleared Livingston, and he said he released it because deserved to know how their money is being spent.
On Thursday night, Livingston sent a text message with a link to the report to all residents in this Denton County suburb of 4,170.
“The no confidence vote is just another measure to smear me and to attack my character,” Livingston said.
Livingston said it is all about politics and that the council meeting is on the same day that early voting begins for municipal elections.
Livingston is not seeking reelection as mayor, but he is running against his political foe, Ronald Schmidt, for the Place 2 seat on the Town Council.
“None of what’s happening right now is a coincidence,” he said.
But council member Cynthia Hermann said she is seeking the no confidence vote because Livingston released information that was discussed during executive sessions that were considered to be personnel matters and the council voted against releasing the information.
“I asked for the vote of no confidence because I have no confidence in him at this point as a human being or as mayor,” she said.
However, Livingston said that the council declined to act on a motion to release the report during its March meeting
Hermann said she requested an investigation after former town secretary Laura Calcote resigned last June.
“No one is accusing the mayor of committing a crime. I wanted to better understand what happened,” Hermann said.
Information from the report showed that Calcote and other employees were affected by the political divisions among council members, which made their jobs difficult.
The report described how Livingston “yelled” at Calcote and other employees on several occasions, but also stated that he did not violate any laws and that he did not engage in “gender discrimination.”
The report described how police were called to city hall on June 2 by Livingston’s political opponents after they reported that Calcote closed and locked her office door.
Investigators found that Calcote closed the door, but it wasn’t locked.
The report also described how the council as a whole played a part in creating a hostile work environment for employees.
Livingston said the council members want him out because they are upset that he released the information showing how they called police, “summoning them to city hall for a non-incident.” The police chief said it was an HR matter, Livingston said.
Another twist
But Hermann said she is also calling the mayor’s behavior into question after town manager Erika McComis sent an email recently requesting permission to work from home after a run-in with Livingston, and that if the mayor wants to meet her at city hall, she wants another person there for safety reasons.
Hermann said that Livingston’s behavior of making employees feel uncomfortable is continuing, and that McComis’ complaint is similar to the one filed by the former town secretary.
McComis said in an interview that the mayor has a history of being irate and of yelling at employees.
She also accused Livingston of “discriminating against women.”
“If we’re trying to talk during council meetings, he talks over us,” she said. “He doesn’t talk to men in the same manner as he does with women.”
But council member Sherri Myers wrote in an email the mayor has treated women in a professional manner.
“As a council member who has observed Mayor Livingston closely, I have never witnessed the Mayor raise his voice, yell, scream, be irate, or speak differently to anyone or be anything other than professional and about the business of the town,” Myers wrote. “I find these accusations to be typical election-time politics, as councilwoman Hermann — who sides with the mayor’s political opponents — is willing to be involved right before early voting.”
McComis said she believes that the election is “getting to the mayor.”
“It’s just very contentious and very ugly right now. I hate that for the town and for the citizens,” McComis said.
Meanwhile, Livingston said the council cannot force him to leave office, and that he will continue to serve until his term ends.
“I fully intend to step back onto the council in the election,” he said.
This story was originally published April 21, 2023 at 5:36 PM.