Pictured above, the Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider removing housing board member Joe Lee, not pictured, because of a critical e-mail he wrote after a 4-3 vote on the controversial traffic camera contract in March.
Note: This story was last updated at 2:30 p.m.
An Oak Ridge official wants the City Council to consider removing Joseph Lee from a city housing board because of his criticism—she called it contempt—for the council members who voted against renewing the controversial traffic camera contract in March.
The City Council will consider removing Lee, who serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, during a Monday, April 14, meeting.
“I was not at all surprised by the 4-3 vote,” Lee wrote in a March 28 e-mail to Council member Anne Garcia Garland, who made the request to consider removing him on Monday. “After all, it was not about safety or the money, it is about the votes. Take the fact that your entire campaign to be elected to city council and combine that with the nut jobs that you are aligned with and cater to, it has been obvious for a very long time that we were never going to hear the end of your whining until you got another shot at this issue.
Joe Lee, left, tells Oak Ridge City Council members he supports the traffic cameras in March.
“The opening line of your Monday monologue said just that. There was no need to lie to us that evening about how this issue has divided the city. This city is divided over the cameras because you and your clan of ‘camera crazies’ have intentionally split this city apart in order to stir up the electorate and turn out votes for your twisted positions. You know that is true. To deny it only speaks volumes to the level of intelligence at which you function.”
The e-mail chain was carbon-copied to Council members, some city officials, and later reporters.
In the e-mail to Garcia Garland, Lee said he was surprised to learn that the “clown car has a comfortable seating capacity of four,” although it wasn’t clear if he was referring to the four members of the City Council who did not vote to renew the Redflex camera contract in a 4-3 vote on March 24.
“You and the clowns put on quite a show,” Lee said. “I have always enjoyed going to council meetings because it’s the best show in town. You kids put on the most pathetic display of lack of leadership and vision that I have ever seen. Not since a previous council years ago started the Mall Wars and damaged retail sales tax revenue in this town have I seen such foolishness. What I saw Monday was not people working together to move our city forward or even sideways but one big giant step in reverse. This was small ball being played in a big way and I am not a happy camper. It would be illogical for any of these characters to think they have done the right thing for our city.”
Lee said that the decision to not renew the contract “blew a $500,000 hole in the annual city budget.” He also took aim at other camera opponents, calling one “the city moron” and another “the village idiot.”
Council does not remove board members very often. But the seven-member body did remove a member of the city’s beer board in July 2013 after two other members of that board said member Pedro Otaduy had been disruptive and argumentative, and turned what had been smooth-running and efficient meetings into “veritable circuses.â€
On the Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals, Lee has often been the fiercest critic of Applewood Apartments owner Joe Levitt, who has appeared before the board on issues related to apartment repairs and demolition orders. Lee and Levitt have frequently clashed.
Lee once ran for Anderson County Commission in District 7 in Oak Ridge, but he lost by one vote to John Shuey in August 2006.
The resolution to be considered by the City Council on Monday would remove Lee from the Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals and positions on any other boards, commissions, or committees appointed or elected by the City Council. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday, April 14, in the Municipal Building Courtroom. You can see the agenda here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Kay Williamson says
joseph lee is the city MORON!!!!! and you coward, If you got something to say to me, ”’SAY IT TO MY FACE”””
Dan Manning says
Mr Huotari,
Pursuant to your rules about behavior for postings I recommend that the above post should be removed. It adds nothing to the discussion.
Peggy Tiner says
Oh, I think it adds a little spice.
Eileen Slater says
Wow. I don’t know this guy or anything about him, but his email as quoted in this article is indeed contemptuous of Ms. Garcia Garland and, by extension, many individuals whose views she represents. I’d hate to have an appeal before the board he serves on. I think Ms. Garcia Garland’s suggestion deserves serious consideration.
Cindy McCullough says
I have to say the email as quoted goes way beyond professional behavior and he should be at least reprimanded for it and he should give everyone an apology. Small correction to article, I assume the meeting discussing removing him is April 14th, not March 14th, in paragraph 2.
Kay W. below, I don’t think your comments really add to the discussion. Could we go without the name calling, please?
Bill Blackwood says
Mr. Lee just said what any number of people are too timid to say. Kay Williamson, her former employer TJ Garland, his wife Anne Garcia Garland, and Trina Baughn are just some of the members of the OR clown company. Now when someone had the temerity to call a spade a spade, their response is predictable, they want to try to shut him up.
Rob Woodward says
I applaud Mr. Lee as well. His penchant for calling a spade a spade never shone more brightly then when he bellyached aloud over what truly upset him: the loss of revenue.
Kay Williamson says
Mr. Blackwood, i got my information about the red light camera off the internet,, why don’t you google what the VICE PRESIDENT OF THAT COMPANY SAID, why don’t you look at why 15 states have ALREADY BAN THEM,, i guess those people are in the same club as me.. why don’t you look at NEW MEXICO BEING SUED for non payment tickets after they quit the contract and REDFLEX want the city to still pay them for red light camera tickets they did not even collected ON…
Kay Williamson says
I am sorry Cindy McCullough, but JOSEPH LEE email contain my name,,, so I think my comment is WELL JUSTIFY…
Tom Kelly says
Since you’re not a member of council, not a member of city staff, nor a reporter, the fact that you have been privy to the text of the email just proves Mr Lee’s point. You’re part of the clown car.
Kay Williamson says
he sent the email to many people not just a few and not everyone that works for the city was for the RED LIGHT CAMERA’S EITHER… AND SINCE I’M PART OF THAT CLOWN CAR I’LL BE SURE TO DRIVE FAST AS THEY TAKE DOWN THE SCAMMER’S…
Tom Kelly says
So you proudly brag that you are going to break the law and exceed the speed limit. How appropriate.
Ellen Smith says
Tom: The email is in the City Council agenda package which is on the city website, so the email is available to everybody now.
Kay Williamson says
thanks ellen..
Curt Kelsey says
Even Clowns like you Tom Kelly !
Tim McGhee says
And Mr. Lee’s comments were also justified. He may not have been as diplomatic as he could or should have been, but the reality of the situation is that there is a contingent of citizens who continually attack the city and its government to the detriment of all. You, Ms. Williamson, TJ Garland (Anne Garcia-Garland’s husband), and Trina Baughn are all guilty of making unfounded, unprovable, and untrue accusations of improper (even illegal) conduct by other city officials. Now, when you find yourself on the receiving end of such comments, your response is anger and an attempt to silence the source. I can’t say that I am surprised.
Harry Pruitt says
I don’t think I would want someone with this level of temper representing Oak Ridge in any way, shape or form. He has gone way overboard.
Tim Nation says
Sort of like you lying about Kroger’s concern about red light cameras?
Harry Pruitt says
Grow up Tim. You and Joe lost on the speed cameras. Get over it.
Harry Clark says
And that’s what it is all about to the members of the clown car. Winning and losing, not what is good for the city.
Abbey Nelson says
Isn’t Garland the council member that told the pastor who would be giving the prayer before council meeting to “leave out the Jesus stuff”? Sounds to me like she can dish it out but can’t take it.
Kay Williamson says
well what about the other leaders of our community TRINA, CHUCK, & DAVID ALSO BEING CALLED A NAME by him..
bill bradley says
well, let’ discuss a couple of them: Baughn is likely the biggest problem the city of O.R. faces today. All this stuff started with her bizarre open letter to the super of schools before he ever got to town. Never in 50 years have I seen such rude, idiotic behavior. And now, Mr. Lee has turned the tables on you, Kay, by using the same language and behavior you use on your blogs. You personal rants are exactly the opposite of what you demand (let’s be respectful to one another). Abbey Nelson is correct, Garland did say “cut the Jesus stuff” and Nelson is correct, you three ladies are apparently “peas in a pod” who can’t take it. But you’ve all spent months dishing it out. Now, as far as “say it to my face”, how would one go about doing that? That comment sounds rather sophomoric, if you ask me. What’re you going to do..beat him up? Should he seek you out….does he know where you work? I’m betting you and Baughn and Garland burned the phone lines up that day! You calling Mr. Lee the city moron seems to violate your own guidelines for good behavior and respectfulness. Of course you think your comments are justified – this is the same kind of bizarre rationale Baughn has used since her tenure on council began (let’s hope it’s short term).
Kay Williamson says
first of all I DO IT PUBLIC, AND I FORWARD EVERY NAME CALLING THING TO THE PERSON SO THEY KNOW I SAID IT and will say the same thing to their faces,, Mr. Lee did put my name IN the email.. if i email something about someone, AND I DO IT FREQUENTLY and I will also email that person and let them know that i did say it, AND MY LANGUAGE, well this is america and i’m still free to speak my mind in of the COLORFUL WAY I CHOOSE.. you must be a fan, your reading my website..
bill bradley says
Name calling usually subsides before you get to high school. It’s a poor way to communicate and something parents try to stop at an early age. Yet it appears when someone returns the favor to you, you get upset. Hmmm. You appear to be upset that he’s exercised the same rights you choose to use. I choose to read your website, even though the lady above you claims it’s hers, for entertainment purposes. I don’t mind listening to both sides. To both of you I say this: the “truth” has as many sides as there are those who claim to seek it. I believe your beloved Baughn has been incorrect more than once in her claims to find the truth. When someone starts claiming they’re searching for the truth for the people, that normally starts raising red flags…both sides can make that claim and whom do we believe ? Drugs in your neighborhood, you claim … I support your efforts to stop it. But perhaps the red light cameras would have increased the man hours cops could’ve spent in your neighborhood instead of sitting on the side of the road catching speeders. Red light cameras don’t prohibit employers from moving to our town, yet drugs might. I doubt there are many “drug free” neighborhoods in America now. To close, Kristy … I don’t need to accuse Kay of hiding behind a double standard. She’s proven that herself quite clearly. Her language is abusive, which clearly violates your code of conduct. And unfortunately, it dilutes her message. Even to the point of overshadowing her positive efforts on things like the animal shelter. At some point, people will quit listening to the abusive commentary … they always do. Civil conversation shouldn’t be a lost art.
Kay Williamson says
I tried to be nice, like i said before,,, how long am i suppose to be nice,, when a bullet hit my house.. while they play bumper cars up and down the street in the stolen cars they are driving.. while they rob the all the houses or tear them up in the neighborhood. this is not a one day event,, this has been going on for years at the SAME HOUSE.. the block is so bad even HABITAT WILL NOT BUILD ON IT..get a kleenex and clean those rose colored glasses off…
bill bradley says
And yet you wanted the police to handle speeders instead of policing your neighborhood??!!! “You gotta give a little to get a little”!! The “rose colors” you refer to are you wanting it all your way, ma’m! If we never had a cop write another speeding ticket think of the hours they could spend elsewhere, aka your and my neighborhoods. Most of the people I know think that the schools were safer when people knew there was a speeding deterrent in effect. Now, it’ll be hit and miss, and we’ve got to find a boatload of money somewhere else. It ALL fits together….not always smoothly, but it’s all tied in somehow. I’d rather have cops on your street than writing tickets on the turnpike and making kids late to class. What am I missing here? We want better schools, which includes technology, but you don’t want the technology to make our schools and our city safer, yet you want cops on your street AND policing speeders. I’m trying to calmly see your side, but I’m sorry, I can’t understand your logic at all.
Kristy Herron says
Please allow me to clarify a couple of points. The “good behavior” and respectfulness requirement are rules for Raw – a group I started and I personally sought Kay to help me administrate. Before you accuse her of double standards, please understand that.
The city needs truth seekers and leaders that will take back our neighborhoods. The city needs leaders that will eliminate lies being swept under the rug. I may not agree 100% with Trina, but she has guts to find answers, ask the right questions, and get things done.
Rob Woodward says
I will note that Ms. Williamson isn’t a government official and Mr. Lee is.
If she were, I’d consider some of her behavior inappropriate, but as is, his certainly is over the top.
You don’t have to be a Ron Paul supporter in order to dislike traffic cameras. Mr. Lee’s disdain for CC members troubles me less than his disdain for 50% of our towns population.
bill bradley says
I’m sorry Rob, I overlooked your response until now. Certainly Mr. Lee could have made his point in a milder manner. I happen to agree with many of his sentiments. I’m not a Ron Paul supporter, but Kay’s campaign to destroy the cameras is laughable when she’s complaining about drugs being sold in her neighborhood. Let the cameras catch speeders and let the cops catch the drug guys….there’s only so many hours in each cop’s shift!!
I’m not sure I agree with your comment about 50% of our town’s population. I’d like to think that most of the city can see thru this band of self promoters proclaiming they are looking for the truth!
Kay Williamson says
apparently the camera didn’t help the drugs in my neighborhood either, they have been operating on robertsville road for the past number of years, you don’t think i don’t have a problem around the corner from my house.. it’s public parking at the end of the road.. CHECK IT OUT ANYTIME.. THEIR OPEN 24/7
Abbey Nelson says
Right, and nobody called for his removal then. What’s different now? Because it is you?
Harry Pruitt says
John: Would you consider publishing the e-mail that was sent to a number of city officials, in it’s entirety? I have read it and the level of anger displayed is an eye opener. Incidentally since our police chief was included as a recipient I sincerely hope a strong police presence will be in effect when this issue comes before council.. Thanks
Curt Kelsey says
So according to Mr. Lee anyone that opposed the “Revenue Cameras” wants to “Blow a hole in the Budget”. Let me tell you something Mr. Lee, IT”S NOT YOUR MONEY that these “scameras” cheated people out of They should be re-paying all of the people that turned right on red and yet were intimadated into paying a $50 ticket they received anyway. The State legislature finally caught up to this. Why not use the budget to pay those folks back?. It’s not part of YOUR BUDGET ,you need to get a clue. And I stay away from Oak Ridge because of your cameras. Business’ suffer from these companies like Redflex taking the people’s hard earned money so you can have more of a BIG Budget, a smaller budget would be much better.We (consumers),stay away and spend our money in more friendly environments because of “CLOWNS” like you Mr. Lee .
Tom Watson says
I hope that you continue to “stay away from Oak Ridge”, Mr. Kelsey. Since you don’t pay taxes in the city, then it’s not part of your budget either so who really cares what your opinion on the matter is?
johnhuotari says
Sorry I didn’t have a chance to respond sooner, but I do think the comments in this thread have run their course, so I’ve closed this thread. For those who asked about the original e-mail, it is included in the City Council agenda packet, and I included a link to the agenda at the end of the story above. I hope that helps. Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you for reading Oak Ridge Today.