''I believe he (Ford) was treated differently,'' Joseph Lee (right, with lawyer Robert Spence) said after a grand jury appearance.
Posted on 02/28/2007 5:05:01 AM PST by Sybeck1
Amid FBI probe, utility chief apologizes, takes blame for favors to Edmund Ford
Facing a federal investigation and widespread community outrage, Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division president and CEO Joseph Lee apologized Tuesday for giving special treatment to City Councilman Edmund Ford.
"Based on my personal review of the manner in which MLGW handled one or more accounts belonging to Edmund Ford, I believe he was treated differently, and this was wrong," Lee said outside the federal courthouse after testifying before a federal grant jury.
"There was no active intent to treat him differently -- but the fact is, he was treated differently. I take full and complete responsibility for these actions, and I am sorry."
The FBI is investigating why MLGW employees protected Ford's business and residential utility services from disconnection even though he owed more than $16,000 on three accounts.
Ford served as chairman of the City Council's General Services & Utilities Committee, which oversees the city-owned utility's budget and spending, until December, when he was removed from the committee post following his arrest on federal bribery charges.
On instructions from Lee not to cut off Ford's business and residential utility services, MLGW staff protected the councilman's three utility accounts from being cut off, records show.
Gloria Washington, a top assistant to Lee, enrolled Ford's business water account into On Track, a special program designed for low-income residents having trouble paying their bills. While in the program, residents do not face disconnection due to unpaid bills. Although Ford was ineligible for On Track, his account enjoyed immunity from disconnection.
Alonzo Weaver, vice president of customer operations, shielded Ford's two other accounts using MLGW's "Third Party Notification" service. Designed to notify a family member when a loved one faces utility disconnection due to unpaid bills, Weaver employed the program to be informed when Ford might face cutoffs. He received such notices every four to six weeks, and every time, Weaver granted payment extensions as Ford's debt to MLGW grew.
MLGW's systems were also set up to notify top utility employees if more than a dozen Bluff City politicos face service cutoff due to unpaid bills -- including Mayor Willie Herenton and four other City Council members.
Although Lee did not address Ford's inclusion in On Track, he said the use of Third Party Notification to protect Memphis' politically affluent will end immediately.
"Although this pre-existing practice was started in the 1990s, before my tenure at MLGW began, I again take full and complete responsibility for it and apologize to those public officials who were added to this program without their knowledge," Lee said. "I believe it was wrong, and it will be immediately discontinued."
In fact, Lee's attorney, Robert Spence, and MLGW's communications staff spent part of Tuesday distributing documents they claimed prove MLGW's previous president, Herman Morris, created the politician protection list.
Spence provided an undated list of names unrelated to Third Party Notification and a 2002 e-mail in which Morris instructs a staff member to create a list of "notable individuals" who might "require my personal awareness." Spence wrote in a letter Tuesday: "I have discovered the controversial use of the 'Third-Party Notification' program ... originated several years before Mr. Lee's tenure as the president of MLGW began."
But Lee and his attorney failed to synch their timeline concerning the Third Party Notification list. During his statement, Lee said the practice began in the 1990s -- years before Spence said it started in 2002.
What's more, the documents provided do not support Spence's assertion that the list is related to Third Party Notification. Asked about the scant evidence, Spence replied: "It is what it is."
Lee's carefully worded statement, given about 100 yards from where he was appointed at City Hall to head MLGW in 2004, angered City Councilman Jack Sammons.
"The goal should be to restore public confidence, and you'll never accomplish this by reading a prepared statement," he said. "That's Nixonesque. You just can't do this."
Sammons added: "Joseph Lee is damaged goods. He's got an incredibly narrow window of opportunity to try to regain the public's confidence, and I think it's nearly impossible for him to do that."
Wearing a gold MLGW pin on his lapel, Lee finished his statement by addressing the issue of restoring public integrity:
"I would like to assure our customers that MLGW is committed to providing them with the best possible service at the lowest possible rates. ... I recognize some of our actions as an organization may have damaged your faith in us to do this. However, we are committed to working hard to regain your trust and confidence."
Lee then walked north on Main Street, refusing to answer questions.
-- Trevor Aaronson: 529-2864
Copyright 2007, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved
''I believe he (Ford) was treated differently,'' Joseph Lee (right, with lawyer Robert Spence) said after a grand jury appearance.
Same old Memphis.
Every one who protected him should be fired immediately.
Is there a black Mafia in Tennessee with the Ford Family as the head of it?? This is DISGUSTING!!!
You could say that to be true.
And us Colonials are leaving just as fast as we can!
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