SHORELINE — For the third week in a row, a speaker at a Shoreline City Council meeting made a speech to “set the record straight.”

Resident George Mauer requested five minutes to address the Shoreline City Council and public at the Monday, Jan. 23 meeting. The Shoreline resident said his intent was to counter comments made by City Councilman Rich Gustafson at the previous meeting regarding events leading to the resignation of former city manager Steve Burkett. Gustafson said he made his remarks in response to a previous statement by Councilwoman Maggie Fimia.

“I am here to set the record straight in response to a televised speech by Gustafson who made false, unsubstantiated, slanderous statements that were politically motivated and recklessly damaged my reputation,” Mauer said,

Throughout Gustafson’s statement, there was mention of discrepancies regarding Mauer, who was briefly considered for a proposed contract position with the city that opponents labeled “cronyism.”

In response to Gustafson’s allegation that Mauer’s resume was incomplete and that he chose to not sign a standard release waiver form for a reference check, Mauer said that had Gustafson checked, he would have learned that all employers were listed on his resume as well as degrees and papers authored for academic publication. Mauer also said he signed a background information release form that was approved by city staff.

Regarding Gustafson’s statement that Mauer’s hiring would have been a conflict of interest because many council members and “their families had contributed large amounts of money to his campaign fund,” Mauer said that five council members made token contributions of between $30 to $100 for a total of $255. Mauer ran against Councilman Ron Hansen in the November election.

Mauer said he withdrew his employment application with the city before the Jan. 17 council meeting, and therefore the issue of possible employment was “moot.” Mauer also said he found himself in an ethical conflict of interest and contemplated legal action against the city.

“You profess to be truthful, honest and fair,” Mauer said. “But the statements do not support such values.”

Before Mauer was allotted five minutes, rather than the usual three minutes given to speakers during public comment, council members agreed that there needed to be an end to “one-upping” one another at meetings. However, most members were in favor of allowing Mauer extra time.

“We need to work as a team and stop tit-for-tat,” Councilwoman Janet Way said. “But this is one exception.”

Fimia also favored suspending the rules and allowing Mauer an extra two minutes, although Gustafson said allowing citizens extra time to speak in response to council members will establish an “unhealthy” protocol.

“Last week, Gustafson mentioned Mauer repeatedly,” Fimia said. “His reputation is called into question; this is a very unusual circumstance.”