Despite a last-minute move by one New Castle County councilman to reimburse Council President Paul Clark (D-Newark) for nearly $13,000 in legal fees before the fiscal year closes June 30, he'll have to wait.
Some council members were uncomfortable moving forward with a vote Tuesday, June 23 on the measure that was to be sponsored by Councilman George Smiley (D-New Castle) as a so-called “item J,” because the item was not published in the agenda.
The Attorney General's Office recently exonerated Clark related to his dealings with a former aide. Danielle Catarelli spurred an AG investigation last summer when she sent a letter to council stating Clark directed her to do work in the council office she believed "to be unethical and possibly illegal." A county Ethics Commission investigation is ongoing.
To avoid controversy, Clark requested that council delay the item until next month.
“The sad thing is we had the money in this budget,” he said. “The next budget [which begins July 1] is very tight.”
