They argued the mayor did it to retaliate against the union for supporting one of the mayor’s opponents.
The decision was a rare, if not unprecedented event in Lake Superior Court history.
Typically, a single judge hears evidence and arguments and rules on a governmental dispute in a traditional courtroom setting.
However, state law required multiple judges to rule on the issue.
Superior Court Civil Division judicial officers Bruce D. Parent, Thomas P. Hallett, Kristina C. Kantar, Stephen E. Scheele and Gina L. Jones heard two hours of legal arguments Thursday via a video teleconferencing network required under the state’s pandemic order to limit large gatherings.
The judges took the matter under advisement last week and ruled Thursday.
The judges ruled in favor of the council on a separate ordinance granting city residents up to $500 relief from a stormwater flood in May 2020 to help city residents clean it up.
The judges also ruled in favor of another council ordinance that permitted the use of the Heritage Hall Community Recreation Center gym, 4506 Tod Ave., as a venue for council meetings during the pandemic.
The mayor had vetoed the stormwater relief and the Heritage Hall ordinances as a usurpation of his mayoral powers.
