Members of Nelsonville City Council, residents call for charter council president’s resignation
By: Haley Richardson
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Three members of Nelsonville City Council and two community members called for council president, Cameron Peck, to resign over his communications with residents.
During citizens’ comments at the charter council’s Wednesday meeting, resident Lori Crook was one who expressed concern over what she described as “erratic, volatile, threatening, unethical, and unprofessional” behavior online in a statement she read to council.
Crook specifically mentioned Peck’s interactions with residents on Facebook. Specifically, where a citizen asked about when trash would be picked up following the Nelsonville Bigfoot Festival and Peck commented on the post the resident was “an insestious millionaire” with early onset dementia in response.
“I feel like it’s kind of reached a point where it was really a big problem and very inappropriate behavior for anyone in public office to be harassing constituents,” Crook said.
“It has been apparent for quite a while now, but it’s kind of been a snowballing bigger and bigger problem, the way that he engages with the public and other council members and city employees,” Powell said.
They also alleged Peck used his position to threaten other members of city government.
Peck denied the allegation that he had threatened anyone, and said he will not be resigning.
“My responsibility is not to be universally liked,” Peck wrote in a statement. “I remain committed to serving the people of Nelsonville, protecting the integrity of our municipal government, and continuing the work of moving our city forward.”
The calls for Peck’s resignation came just before the City Council passed a resolution ordering the board of elections to hold a special election with a recall effort on the ballot.
The recall effort was brought to the council by a petitioners’ committee in an effort to determine which of the city’s rival councils is the rightful government.
On Dec. 15, Nelsonville residents will be able to vote to recall all members of the charter council.