Columbia city manager responds to abuse of power claims made by former workers

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The city manager of Columbia said the city government hasn't been given anything specific to investigate on claims he abused his power.

City manager John Glascock released a statement on Monday after two former city workers claimed he may have violated city ordinance and state law in reprimanding them.

ABC 17 News spoke to both Colleen Spurlock and Kyle Rieman after Glascock put them both on leave in July. Spurlock later quit and Glascock fired Rieman. Both questioned the reasons the city manager gave for their punishment, which they believe tied back to their attendance at a June 21 city council meeting.

Glascock did not specifically mention Spurlock or Rieman, but said employees "need to put the citizens first and are accountable for their actions."

"Allegations of corruption and abuse of power are strong statements indicating criminal activity in your city government," Glascock said. "The City has been presented with no specifics to investigate these broad allegations and inflammatory claims. There is no reason to believe these statements carry any validity whatsoever."

Rieman wrote a four-page letter last week detailing several instances he felt Glascock abused his power. A separation letter Glascock wrote for Rieman called the former city budget officer insubordinate, which Rieman denies.

City council members have remained mum on the issue. Council members Ian Thomas, Pat Fowler and Andrea Waner declined to comment, while Brian Treece, Karl Skala, Matt Pitzer and Betsy Peters did not respond to a request for comment.