Public commenter accuses Councilmember Ben Lopez of harassing two employees; council enters closed session to discuss related litigation

At a special meeting of the Montclair City Council, public commenter Bruce Colt alleged that a councilmember has harassed two city employees and urged the council to remove Councilmember Ben Lopez from office or ask the state for authority to do so.

"We need to, have him removed somehow," Colt said, and asked the council to "write a letter to the state" backing any legislation that would allow city councils to remove a member accused of harassment.

Colt said the alleged conduct has continued while the city has borne costs for staff time and facility operation. He told the council the matter should be handled in public rather than behind closed doors so residents can see the financial and personnel impacts. "So, hopefully, that we get that all taken care of," Colt said.

After public comment, the City Attorney told the council the closed session item concerned "pending litigation involving the matter of Fuentes Garcia versus Lopez." The mayor then announced the council would go into closed session to discuss that litigation. The transcript records no formal vote on the matter.

The comment period was administered under the council's five-minute speaker limit; the transcript records one public commenter for this meeting. The council did not provide further public details in the record about the nature of the allegations, any investigation status, or timelines for next public steps.

The council proceeded into closed session to discuss the litigation; no subsequent public decision or return-to-open-session details are recorded in the provided transcript.