Culver City Observer -

City councilman Mehaul O’Leary returned to his duties Monday night September 14 2009, after missing two meetings following an altercation at his Joxer’s Daly pub on Washington Blvd.in August.

O’Leary suffered facial injuries, was in intensive care and underwent surgery after he was punched by bar patron Robert Singerman, a 28-year-old former Culver City High football player. O’Leary hit his head on a concrete floor following the punch.

In recent weeks he has been recovering and briefly attended Culver City’s Fiesta La Ballona at the end of August.

However, various accounts of what transpired that night have surfaced and no charges have been filed.

Several days after the fight Singerman turned himself in to Culver City police, posted a $60,000 bond and was released.

On Monday night O’Leary didn’t mingle with friends in the audience as he and other councilmen frequently do prior to the meeting but conducted council business.

Mayor Andrew Weisman said “I would like to welcome back, and to recognize, Mr. O’Leary.”

Following initial accounts that Singerman assaulted O’Leary because the owner wouldn’t give him a drink after the 2 a.m. closing time, friends of Singerman have offered another scenario as reported by thefrontpageonline.com.

Singerman’s friends, in anonymous quotes, said O’Leary was drinking and should be the one held responsible for the trouble.

The friends also claimed O’Leary and Singerman were well acquainted have had drinks together in the past and had a congenial relationship.

O’Leary came to the United States from Ireland at 23.

The Council voted unanimously to endorse the Culver City Unified School District’s Measure EE, a five-year parcel tax. The parcel tax was proposed to help close the current budget gap in the Culver Schools. CCUSD Board Member Scott Zeidman and former member Madeline Erhlich, co chairs of the YES on EE spoke in favor of the endorsement as 14 supporters turned in cards.

“Every penny of the parcel tax will stay in Culver City, none of it will go to Sacramento,” Zeidman told the council.

The parcel tax will be on the November election ballot. The measure will tax each parcel in Culver City $96 per year for a five year period. Senior Citizens living in their primary residence may be exempted from the parcel tax.

The council accepted a proposal for a business tax amnesty program in hopes of finding unregistered businesses or those that are under reporting revenues. The program will waive late fees on businesses that file within between September 21 through November 30. The City is implementing this program prior to the beginning of the annual business tax audit.