On June 14, the Urbana City Council unanimously approved a budget amendment that included money to purchase equipment for the city so that the city could join a free wireless network (CUWiN) being developed by a non-profit, volunteer-run community organization. The budget item did not include any money or equipment for CUWiN – just money to purchase wireless equipment that the city would own and operate.

At the meeting, Urbana Mayor Tod Satterthwaite raised the objection that the budget item might present the appearance of a conflict of interest, because some CUWiN volunteers are personal friends of Alderwoman Danielle Chynoweth. In response to this objection, several council members, including Chynoweth, pointed out that not only did the proposal not include any money or equipment for CUWiN, but that, if anything, the city would stand to benefit from the volunteer work and expertise CUWiN was offering to help the city expand CUWiN’s network throughout downtown Urbana.

Following that discussion, the council unanimously approved the budget amendment.

Now, Satterthwaite is raising the objection again, claiming Chynoweth failed to inform the council that CUWiN volunteer Sascha Meinrath was her housemate. The record clearly shows that the council did not consider this a possible conflict of interest – regardless of what Chynoweth’s relationship was with Meinrath – because the budget item did not include any money, equipment or support to CUWiN.

Satterthwaite’s distortion of the public record is willful and irresponsible. If purchasing equipment for the city that benefits the community is a conflict of interest anytime a friend of a council member is involved, then every member of the city council, and Satterthwaite himself, are guilty many times over.

Satterthwaite needs to stop spending his time smearing city council members with unfounded allegations and start concentrating on serving the community.

JOE Futrelle

University employee