LONDON, Ky. (WKYT) – A southern Kentucky city council will have an impeachment hearing on September 5 in an attempt to remove a mayor from office.
It followed a drama-filled and chaotic meeting inside the London Community Center on Friday afternoon, which then spilled outside in the parking lot as people were leaving.
Shouting and interruptions marked Friday’s special meeting of the council.
“That is not democracy. That is an abuse of process,” said Mayor Randall Weddle’s attorney as the meeting was getting started. He was arguing that changes to the agenda to be heard next Friday were “rushed, irregular,” and part of a “political process.”
The meeting was to add charges to the allegations against Mayor Randall Weddle.
“Mayor Weddle either through misconduct or willful neglect failed to even appoint members of the housing authority,” said acting city clerk Ashley Taylor when reading the various charges against the mayor.
That motion passed 5-0 with one council member absent. Later, the council voted to accept the resignation of Charles Stacy Benge. But most of the drama inside centered on a motion to disapprove housing authority appointments.
“We want to make it a matter of record that council is taking the liability of families being evicted from the housing authority at this moment,” Mayor Weddle said to the council and the audience as the vote was being taken.
“On the city, you cannot serve on two boards, we have that is illegal…” council member Kelly Smith Greene said.
There was a lot of shouting during the meeting, especially as the motion over the Housing Authority appointments was being discussed. Then the drama spilled outside in the parking lot.
That’s when some people supporting the mayor tried to confront council members.
“Seen him out here every day. Tornado. Brother, don’t tell me nothing. Hear it from other people he done it for,” a woman yelled outside.
Council members did not want to talk on camera after the meeting, but Weddle and some others did.
“This isn’t what London is wanting. Do you think five begrudged individuals can remove someone who thousands of people voted for?” said Mayor Weddle.
“We are very disappointed in the city council. They do not represent the citizens of London,” said Leigh Howard, who said she was a London resident.
The meeting to consider the charges against the mayor will take place at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, at the Laurel County Judicial Center.
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