Ellisville Council Vote Upholds Mayor's Impeachment

A split Ellisville City Council voted 3-3 Wednesday on a motion to rescind a vote taken last month by the previous council to impeach Mayor Adam Paul. Last month, the previous council voted to impeach Paul, saying he unilaterally tried to have the city attorney replaced, directed city staff to remove residents from meetings and evaded an attempt at being served a subpeona.  

Paul has claimed that impeachment was orchestrated by city staff and others due to his opposition to plans for a Walmart.

Here's how they voted on Resolution #05-15-13A, a resolution Rescinding Resolution #04-08-13.

Matt Pirrello (District 1 Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem) NAY 

Gary Voss (District 1 Council Member)  AYE

Linda Reel (District 2 Council Member) AYE

Mick Cahill (District 2 Council Member) AYE

Roze Acup (District 3 Council Member) NAY

Cindy Pool (District 3 Council Member)  NAY

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Pool was seen as the swing vote prior to the meeting. She told Patch earlier this week that she still had unanswerd questions about the impeachment trial and conceded that there was probably fault on both sides.  She had voiced concern about the potential for setting a precedent that would allow for any vote to be overturned once the makeup of the council changed and said Wednesday that within hours of Tuesday's story being posted on Patch, that she'd heard from constituents about wanting to have decisions on TIF (Tax Increment Financing) and the city's laws on Sudafed rescinded.

WATCH Pool's comments prior to Wednesday's vote

That legal precedent, and the fact that the resolution as written wasn't in line with Roberts Rules of Order, were part of her decision-making process.

"Constituents wanted this to stop," Pool said afterward. "'We want this to go away'" she said she was told by residents, who didn't necessarily say that they wanted Paul reinstated. Pool declined to tell reporters directly if she thought Paul should have been impeached in the first place, although she did say that she hoped that by running for the council seat, she could have worked to forge a compromise which would have prevented it.

The vote came after 10 residents spoke up in support of the resolution. Critics have cited the money the city has paid in legal bills thus far--roughly $100,000--tied to the process. Pool said the money is being spent because Paul is appealing the decision in court.

Patch news partner FOX2 reports that Paul's attorney will ask a judge to stay the council decision next week while two other suits against city officials work their way through the legal system.

Council members also voted Wednesday to go ahead with a special election in November to fill out the remainder of the Mayor's term.

Coming Friday: Where would Ellisville's Town Hall be relocated to as part of a  multi-million dollar bond issue?