A few points from what will go down as an overdue learning experience for the City Council, City Staff and the 19 District Councils.

1) Ward 3 Council Member Pat Harris can't be blamed for this problem. City Staff should be responsible for District Council oversight. When abnormalities surface and compliance with standards falter, the District Council needs to be held accountable.

2) New members of the board inherited a serious problem.  Most or all of them may be Republicans, but they organized and engaged citizens to participate under the auspices of calling for increased accountability.  Talk about being careful for what you ask for!

3) Condemning Gayle Summers to criminal stature before an investigation is even underway is wrong.  On the surface this looks like a phenomenal community organizer failing the fiduciary responsibilities of an executive director.

Until the books are audited, expenses tallied and the money is found, everyone should presume Gayle’s innocence. SaintPaulicy.com did not break a story about Gayle Summers; it broke a story about some serious financial problems at the Highland District Council. Now its time to find out what happened and make sure it never happens again.