Why would First Ward Portsmouth City Councilman Mike Mearan tell a bold face lie to the citizens that attended the Portsmouth City Council Meeting last night, June 11, 2007? Councilman Mearan was questioned by a local citizen as to why he did not recuse from the vote on placing the new city building at the Adelphia site due to his representation of the man seeking a 10 year tax deduction on the property if it is used by the City of Portsmouth.
Councilman Mearan stated that "he" doesn't have an interest in the Adelphia building therefore he could vote on the matter. The problem with that statement is that he is the "agent" of the man that does own the property therefore he does have a vested interest in seeing that his "agent" is taken care of. So, First Ward Councilman Mearan is a liar! But we all knew that anyway didn't we.
Let's look at the entire background on the Adelphia building and I think you will see the truth behind Mike Mearan. First, Attorney Mike Mearan appeared at Portsmouth City Council offering the building to City Council for the fee of $1.00 with the one condition that the building be used for 10 years so his client could get a tax abatement/break/refund, etc. on the building.
The Adelphia building had been on the local market for sale for many years by local realtor Neal Hatcher but no buyers came forward to purchase the building. It appeared that City Council had no interest in the building either.
So, what happened next?
The Adelphia building had been on the local market for sale for many years by local realtor Neal Hatcher but no buyers came forward to purchase the building. It appeared that City Council had no interest in the building either.
So, what happened next?
Second, the First Ward City Council Seat became vacant. Step into the picture, Attorney Mike Mearan. Mearan had not attended City Council Meetings (at least not more than once or twice in the times I had attended the meetings since 2003) but now he wants to become a City Councilman. Attorney Mearan is blessed by City Council President Howard Baughman and welcomed on board.
Third, First Ward Councilman Mearan actively persued being placed on the Portsmouth Building/Planning Committee. One of their first actions was to choose a site for the new City Building. The choice made was the Adelphia Building. Any big surprise? Not to me. The moment Councilman Mearan took his seat on City Council I could see the writing on the wall.
So, now Councilman Mearan, the agent of a Californian, has completed his job for his personal client. This decision is one of the dirtiest ever perpetuated on the citizens of Portsmouth but nothing appears to be happening to force Councilman Mearan to come clean with his true reason for pushing the Adelphia Building.
Councilman Mearan is known for getting behind closed doors and getting his way. Many court cases have been decided on Mearan's behalf by local judges only to be overturned as illegal by the 4th Court of Appeals.
Then again, what else could we expect when Attorney Mearan is willing to work one of his personal clients against the other to take away personal property of one to give to the other. That's exactly what Attorney Mearan did to a man and his mother in Wheelersburg. Mearan got his personal and former business partner to give a small loan (around $3,000 to another client of Mearan's) and forced the client to sign a note using his and his mother's home as collateral. The home is valued at around $50,000. When the young man and his mother couldn't come up with the money, Attorney Mearan moved in for the kill and took over the house.
With actions such as this why would it surprise anyone that Councilman Mearan would act unethically in the city building decision? It didn't surprise me one bit.
Maybe people should take notice. A guy picking his nose as much as Councilman Mearan isn't trustworthy. He has something to hide!
John Welton (DD)
