Council's Neal submits leave request; recall proponents condemn mayor's statement

The accident, which occurred on November 20, left Neal with serious injuries and necessitated that he submit a leave of absence request to the Lemoore City Council. Neal suffered injuries that initially left him paralyzed. After a five to six-hour surgery, Neal is no longer paralyzed but has suffered nerve damage and inflammation around the spine which inhibits his ability to walk. Physicians have ordered him to bed rest with 15 minutes of activity every four hours.  Until cleared by doctors Neal can do little else but remain virtually incapacitated for up to four to six months.

Neal was the victim of a hit and run accident by someone driving what Neal said may have been a white van. At this date police have yet to arrest anyone for the accident.

Neal, on Tuesday (Jan. 7) submitted a formal letter of request for an extended leave of absence, possibly until May. California code states that any councilmember who is absent without permission from all regular council meetings for 60 consecutive days from the last regular meeting he or she attended, his or her office becomes vacant and can be filled as any other vacancy. Neal, in obvious pain, appeared at the council meeting Tuesday, but left early.

The council is expected to approve the leave of absence at its next regular meeting on January 21. Councilmember Willard Rodarmel was granted a similar leave of absence following a near fatal motorcycle accident in 2007.

In the leave of absence request, he stated that in addition to his physical injuries, Neal cited emotional distress as well, including a phone call to his wife from a community member who suggested that the accident may not have been an accident at all.

Neal discounts the rumors and believes his injuries were caused by a hit and run driver, and that’s all. He also told The Leader that it may be understandable, in light of recent controversies surrounding the city council, from the firing of the city manager to the latest issue involving the sale of the Lemoore golf course, that some may think there may have been more to the accident, something he dismisses.

In his letter requesting a leave of absence, he clearly stated that “The idea of jeopardizing any city official’s life as a repercussion for performing our elected duties and responsibilities is disheartening. And for members of the community to believe that members of the council and the police department are responsible for my accident is disappointing, because we as a council have given the residents of Lemoore reason to believe we are capable of such offenses,” the letter stated in referring to several controversial events during the last year in city hall.

“It is unfortunate for Lemoore that we are surrounded by so many controversies,” said Neal. “But the Lemoore I know will find a way to pull together and move forward in a more constructive way.”

In an article in the January 10 edition of The Hanford Sentinel, Siegel, the subject of a recall after having been served with a notice to circulate petitions on Tuesday, told the Sentinel that he believes the recall and the rumors of foul play surrounding Neal’s accident are tied together.

Furthermore he stated in the Sentinel: “I got served a recall notice by a group of people who earlier in the evening accused the council and the police department of attempted murder.”

Jane Dart, who presented the recall notice to Siegel at the start of Tuesday’s study session, was flabbergasted by Siegel’s statement and said recall members have never say anything remotely tying the two together.

“Siegel’s gone crazy,” said Dart. “That never came up. I have no idea where that’s coming from.”

Another Lemoore resident who attended the meeting and asked not to be identified agreed that nothing of the sort of came up during the meeting or at any time.

Councilmember Willard Rodarmel, when contacted by The Leader was incredulous. “I think it’s a bunch of hogwash. That’s my opinion,” he said in dismissing such speculation.

Neal told The Leader that someone sent a copy of his letter to The Hanford Sentinel but doesn’t know who.

City Manager Jeff Laws told The Leader that he in fact circulated Neal’s letter to councilmembers and said he, nor did any member of city staff, released the letter. “It was not the city,” he said.