Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Cortland council members and petitioners allege mayor threatened legal action; recall petition moves toward certification
Summary
Council members and petition organizers presented emails they say show a breakdown in relations with the mayor, who in a June letter denied the allegations and warned of legal action; petitioners say they submitted 511 signatures and the clerk will certify whether the recall petition meets charter requirements.
Council members and petition organizers used the Nov. 13 Cortland City Council meeting to lay out email exchanges and a recall petition they say show the mayor’s relationship with council has deteriorated and that some residents fear retaliation.
The most serious public comment came from Council Member McClain, who said emails sent by the mayor and by an outside contractor indicated the administration had directed inquiries away from the mayor’s office and that a June 13 letter from the mayor canceled city-run events. McClain said the mayor’s communications included passages that “categorically and unequivocally reject those allegations” while also warning of legal recourse, including retraction demands and potential defamation claims.
Why it matters: Petitioners told council they had collected what they believe are sufficient signatures to trigger Cortland’s recall process under Section 14.3 of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
