St. Clairsville Council President Jim Velas keeps order during a teleconference meeting Monday night. Councilwoman Linda Jordan called for the removal of Councilman Perry Basile over social media post shared by Basile critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. The law director informed her this was not in council’s authority.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The June dispute over a councilman’s social media post critical of the Black Lives Matter movement continued Monday with St. Clairsville Councilwoman Linda Jordan making a motion to remove Councilman Perry Basile from office, but she was told that could not be done by council.
During the June 15 meeting, Councilman Frank Sabatino read a note sent to council by a member of his ward, saying Basile had shared a social media post disparaging the movement. During that meeting, Basile said he had attempted to share a statistical graph on social media and was unaware he was also sharing a critical comment. He stated he had apologized on social media.
Council meetings have been contentious during last year and into this year, with many heated disagreements and barbed insults particularly over the decision to reject water service privatization and criticism of how council members who have served longer on council have managed this issue. Basile and Sabatino have frequently come into conflict, and in the June 15 meeting Jordan, who is Black, has said she has felt condescension during her exchanges with Basile.
This past Monday, Jordan said several concerned citizens had reached out to her on the issue.
“They want to know why nothing has been done. They want to know why the mayor has never addressed or commented on the issue, and they want to know what can be done, so I am making a motion that Perry Basile be removed as a member of this council,” Jordan said.
Council President Jim Velas referred the matter to Law Director Elizabeth Glick. Jordan said she had made the motion and that it be voted on.
Sabatino seconded the motion. Basile then made a motion to remove Sabatino.
“You’re out of line again,” Sabatino said.
Glick said a city council could not act to remove a council member under these circumstances, but that residents from Basile’s First Ward would have to take up a recall petition
Jordan referred to an incident in Bellaire in early June, where a Bellaire village employee was terminated for using a racial slur on social media. Glick said in that case, it was an employee, not a member of council, and the employee had referred to himself as in his capacity with Bellaire.
“If a motion is made can it still not be voted?” Jordan asked.
Velas said the council had no authority in this matter.
“There’s only specific situations that a councilperson can be removed,” he said, adding these include illegal activities or moving out of the area..
Mayor Katheryn Thalman commented.
“I’d like to ask you something Ms. Jordan. Can you please give me the theology and the credo of Black Lives Matter?” Thalman asked.
Jordan said she was relaying residents’ concerns. She said residents have also sent her a social media posting by Jim Behl, who contracts with the city to do electronic and communications work. Jordan read the post, which touched on subjects such as perceived political manipulation of the public, self-improvement and community improvement. She said the wording appeared to carry condescending assumptions about African Americans.
“They don’t want a person who feels superior to people of color benefiting from their tax dollars,” Jordan said.
Glick told her Behl was contracted by the mayor and council could not strike the contract.
“I am allowed to make administrative decisions,” Thalman said.
Velas directed the meeting back to other business.
“The comments on Facebook are nothing that pertains to the city,” Velas said. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of personal things said on Facebook.”
“As far as I’m concerned, the incident is finished,” Thalman said.
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