Nelsonville City Council’s president and another member resign amid a recall effort
By: Haley Richardson
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Nelsonville City Council President Cameron Peck resigned this week after a vote to remove him from the position.
During citizens’ comments at Monday night’s meeting, former Nelsonville Treasurer Michael Milane called for Peck to step down
In a statement submitted to the council, Milane wrote: “I continue to believe his leadership has damaged public confidence in city government.”
Milane also urged other members of council to remove Peck from his position.
According to his statement, “Nelsonville residents deserve a city government that exercises financial responsibility (and) maintains professional standards and holds leadership accountable.”
This is the second time Nelsonville residents have called for Peck’s resignation. On Oct. 14, Milane and Lori Crook, as well as Councilmembers Nic Joseph Saul, McCray Powell and Nancy Sonick, called for Peck’s immediate resignation over concerns about his professional conduct.
The first calls for his removal stemmed from concern over how he engaged with residents on Facebook.
After the most recent demand for Peck to step down, Powell, Joseph Saul, Gregg Clement and Amy Hollenbaugh voted to remove him as president, but not from the council.
“This is not a easy decision,” Clement said. “I don’t think we’ve been operating as … well as we could as a body.”
Charlotte Beach initially abstained from the vote before also voting in favor of Peck’s removal. Beach said that while Peck’s behavior has improved, she still had concerns.
“Cameron, you have come a long way,” Beach said. “You do have a bit more to do.”
Peck then submitted his immediate resignation, expressing frustration with the way the council had been run.
“Nobody enjoys working with you guys,” Peck said. “People have hated working for you guys because you have gone out of your way to make this (as) difficult as possible.”
The council appointed Powell to serve as the new president for the duration of the meeting.
Peck’s resignation leaves the council with two vacant seats because Sonick resigned after the Nov. 2 special meeting.
In her resignation letter, she wrote: “The friendship that I have shared with all of you has meant a lot. … Continue to do your best for my hometown.”