Recent city council meeting sparks petition to remove council members
An online petition created by a London resident to demand removal of four London City Council members for 'unjust conduct' has garnered over 560 signatures as of press time Tuesday afternoon.
Community member Vanessa Miller created the petition following the Feb. 3 city council meeting. The meeting, where arguments between council members and community members ensued, resulted in the removal of two speakers.
'I bore witness to their overt hostility and poor representation of our beloved city, London,' Miller wrote in the description. 'These actions don't merely cast a dark shadow over that particular meeting; they spotlight a significant and recurring problem. We find ourselves questioning the integrity of our local administrative body, concerned about an unjust and non-transparent council whose motives seem to extend beyond the welfare of its citizens.'
The petition calls for the removal of council members Kelly Smith-Greene, Anthony Ortega, Judd Weaver, and Justin Young. The list excludes council members Stacy Benge and Holly Little.
Miller declined comment to The Sentinel-Echo, saying that she would reach out 'if something changes.'
'We do not want to comment on this item at the current time,' Miller said of herself and a fellow unnamed contributor.
The council members are aware of Miller's petition, some giving comment.
'Nothing would ever come of it, I do know that, because it just doesn't work that way,' Young commented, noting concerns that not all of the signers are actual London residents.
Ortega made a similar statement, commenting, 'I don't think that that's even how it works.'
'I understand the public's frustration and outrage with the council. Our meetings have devolved into a public spectacle,' said Little. 'I hope moving forward we will maintain a decorum fitting of the office.'
Council Member Kelly Greene declined comment. Attempts to contact council members Stacy Benge and Judd Weaver were unsuccessful at press time.
'We do not have, in Kentucky, a recall election petition. Some other states do but Kentucky is not one,' City Attorney Larry Bryson confirmed.
However, Bryson shared that the petition could have evidentiary value in a hearing. He continued that, in order for council members to be removed, at least one of the following must occur:
— Someone bringing charges against council members in the case of misconduct or willful neglect of their duties
— An ethics complaint being brought before the Ethics Board
— A complaint being made to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, resulting in an ouster proceeding
KRS 83A.040 (9) states, 'Except in cities of the first class, any elected officer, in case of misconduct, incapacity, or willful neglect in the performance of the duties of his or her office, may be removed from office by a unanimous vote of the members of the legislative body exclusive of any member to be removed, who shall not vote in the deliberation of his or her removal. No elected officer shall be removed without having been given the right to a full public hearing.'
Though the petition alone cannot remove the council members, several residents are using it as an opportunity to voice their opinions on the matter. The petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/demand-removal-of-london-city-council-members-for-unjust-conduct.
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