Metro Council committee holds first meeting in Piagentini ethics case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The charging committee investigating Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini chose its chair and legal counsel on Tuesday.

At its first organizational meeting, the council voted Councilwoman Cindi Fowler, D-14, as chair and Councilman Andrew Owen, D-9, as vice-chair. They now lead the five Democratic Metro Council members determining whether to file charges against Piagentini, R-19.

"We can go either way," Fowler said. "That's why it's so important we examine the facts and the findings of the case."

There is no timeline for how long it will take the committee to review the evidence.

"We just set the two meetings for next week," Fowler said. "Then, we'll do special meetings after."

Piagentini helped his future employer get a $40 million grant from the city. The Louisville Metro Ethics Commission unanimously found Piagentini violated six of seven charges. The commission unanimously recommended Piagentini be removed from Metro Council and imposed a $500 fine for each violation — for a total of $3,000.

Anthony Piagentini Metro Council meeting 3-2-23 — Louisville Metro Councilman Anthony Piagentini, R-19, during a council meeting on Thursday, March 2, 2023. *(WDRB photo)*

The ethics complaint was brought by Kevin Fields Sr., CEO of Louisville Central Community Centers, which unsuccessfully vied for American Rescue Plan funding appropriated by the Metro Council. Fields' attorney, Kent Wicker, will now serve as legal council for the charging committee.

"This is the first time in history any charging committee has hired the complainants attorney, who is clearly biased," Piagentini said.

Piagentini said he believes this shows bias in the committee, but Fowler said Wicker was the only attorney who worked with the committee's schedule.

"He was the first on the list from the county attorney," Fowler said. "They are actually the ones who hired him. We looked at three."

The charging committee will meet again on Monday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m. and again on Friday Nov. 17, at 3 p.m. Fowler did not have any information on how much the committee will cost taxpayers.

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