AUBURN - What has been a strained relationship between Mayor Timothy Lattimore and Councilman David Dempsey apparently came to blows Thursday night.
City police are investigating an incident during an executive session portion of the city council meeting in which Dempsey reportedly struck Lattimore.
"It was a physical altercation," said Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason, who conferred with city Police Chief Gary Gianotta on the matter twice Friday. "I have not seen the medical records, but it's my understanding (Lattimore) received some injuries."
Reached by phone Friday, Lattimore declined to comment on what happened, except to say that police are investigating. The city issued a three-sentence press release that said an incident had occurred in the executive session in front of council members Thomas McNabb, Robert Hunter and William Jacobs and was now under investigation by police.
Chief Deputy Thomas Murphy said Friday the investigation was in the "very early stages."
Dempsey did not return a message left at Aversa Insurance, where he works.
The incident prompted the other council members to issue a strongly worded memorandum to Lattimore and Dempsey.
"It would appear that last night's incident was a result of the culmination of personal and professional issues between the two of you," the memo read. "It goes without saying that your behavior was extremely disturbing to each of us on a personal level, as well as a public body."
Jacobs said Friday he was concerned for some time that the escalating personal conflict between Lattimore and Dempsey, evidenced by the negative way they treat each other during council meetings, was going to become physical.
"I didn't know where it was going to take us," said Jacobs, who gave a deposition to police Friday regarding the executive session incident. He declined to comment publicly on what transpired, but said it has brought the conflict - and how it is affecting city government - into sharp focus.
"The city is in crisis right now," Jacobs said. "There's a whole cloud over everything."
While Jacobs said he is prohibited by city policy to discuss the details of a police investigation, he indicated that he, McNabb and Hunter thought they had to make it clear the behavior was having a detrimental effect on the operation of the city.
The memo's purpose, he and the other councilmen indicated, was to put Lattimore and Dempsey on notice they would be expected to live up to their oath of office and that continued unprofessional behavior would not be tolerated.
The conduct between Lattimore and Dempsey, who work for the same insurance company, has been "disrespectful and derogatory," according to the memo, and disrupts the effectiveness of the administration of city business.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
"It was a physical altercation," said Cayuga County District Attorney James Vargason, who conferred with city Police Chief Gary Gianotta on the matter twice Friday. "I have not seen the medical records, but it's my understanding (Lattimore) received some injuries."
Reached by phone Friday, Lattimore declined to comment on what happened, except to say that police are investigating. The city issued a three-sentence press release that said an incident had occurred in the executive session in front of council members Thomas McNabb, Robert Hunter and William Jacobs and was now under investigation by police.
Chief Deputy Thomas Murphy said Friday the investigation was in the "very early stages."
Dempsey did not return a message left at Aversa Insurance, where he works.
The incident prompted the other council members to issue a strongly worded memorandum to Lattimore and Dempsey.
"It would appear that last night's incident was a result of the culmination of personal and professional issues between the two of you," the memo read. "It goes without saying that your behavior was extremely disturbing to each of us on a personal level, as well as a public body."
Jacobs said Friday he was concerned for some time that the escalating personal conflict between Lattimore and Dempsey, evidenced by the negative way they treat each other during council meetings, was going to become physical.
"I didn't know where it was going to take us," said Jacobs, who gave a deposition to police Friday regarding the executive session incident. He declined to comment publicly on what transpired, but said it has brought the conflict - and how it is affecting city government - into sharp focus.
"The city is in crisis right now," Jacobs said. "There's a whole cloud over everything."
While Jacobs said he is prohibited by city policy to discuss the details of a police investigation, he indicated that he, McNabb and Hunter thought they had to make it clear the behavior was having a detrimental effect on the operation of the city.
The memo's purpose, he and the other councilmen indicated, was to put Lattimore and Dempsey on notice they would be expected to live up to their oath of office and that continued unprofessional behavior would not be tolerated.
The conduct between Lattimore and Dempsey, who work for the same insurance company, has been "disrespectful and derogatory," according to the memo, and disrupts the effectiveness of the administration of city business.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
