Decision Day in Ellisville: Vote on Adam Paul is Tonight

The Ellisville City Council will vote tonight on the removal of Mayor Adam Paul from office.

Keith Cheung, the attorney hired to present the charges against Paul, wrapped up his case after a 14-hour hearing last Wednesday that including a vigorous cross-examination of their witnesses by Paul's own legal representation, Chet Pleban. 

Paul himself did not testify and Pleban's attempts to put several council members on the stand were rejected by the lawyer hired to preside over the hearing.

Following the hearing, the council chose to hold off on making an immediate decision and instead scheduled a meeting for 6 p.m. tonight to publicly consider the evidence. 

The meeting will be held at St. John Lutheran School's Cornerstone Building at 15800 Manchester Road in order to accomodate the large crowds the proceedings have regularly drawn. 

On the table before the members of the council, some of them lame ducks whose terms will soon be experiing, will be charges that Paul abused his authority as mayor on several occasions, such as illegally contacting a representative of the city's Walmart project. 

Paul and Pleban have repeatedly described the entire hearing as a sham with the decision to oust Paul already a foregone conclusion. If he is removed, they've vowed to continue the fight by suing in St. Louis Circuit Court to have the mayor reinstated.

The political crisis and bitter divisions stirred by Paul's tumultuous tenure have attracted wider attention, with the New York Times publishing its own chronicle of the hearing on April 5.

Recap the history of the controversy with Patch's previous coverage:

April 5: Who Are the Winners and Losers From Ellisville Impeachment Hearing?

April 4: Three-Day Hearing Ends With City Manager's Testimony

April 3: Update: No Decision Today on Ellisville Mayor's Fate

April 3: Extra Innings Continue for Hearing to Remove Ellisville Mayor

April 2: Courtroom Drama Defines Hearing to Remove Ellisville Mayor

April 2: Impeachment Hearing for Ellisville Mayor Extended to Election Day

March 29: Ellisville Impeachment Hearing Is On: Judge Denies Restraining Order

March 28: 

March 28: Councilman Denies Any 'Conspiracy' in Case Against Ellisville Mayor

March 27: Attorney for Ellisville Mayor Says Emails Undermine Impeachment Case

March 27: Suspended Ellisville Mayor Says Impeachment Was "Orchestrated"

March 20: Impeachment Fight Focusing on Motivations of Ellisville City Attorney

March 7: Ellisville Moves to Drop Some Charges in Impeachment Case

March 1: 

Feb. 27: Ellisville Mayor Suspended From Office

Feb. 20: Update: Ellisville City Council Proposes Resolution to Remove Mayor from Office

Feb. 18: Charter Commission Recommends Dismissal of Impeachment Claims Against Ellisville Mayor

Feb. 14: Impeachment Claim Against Ellisville Mayor Gets 1st Hearing Monday