Public commenters press council on veterans‑advisory verification and announce recall petition

Several members of the public used the council’s public‑comment period on May 12 to raise concerns about the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council (AVAC) and to announce a recall petition.

Joe Toma told the council he had raised concerns about missing DD214 discharge documents for AVAC members and said the city had not fully investigated. "There are not all official discharge papers... and yet you ignore it," Toma said, alleging that verification was incomplete.

Mike Carrasco, who identified himself as speaking on behalf of a majority of current AVAC members, detailed the advisory council’s activities and expressed frustration with city procedures. Carrasco accused the city and current administration of a lack of due diligence and "unethical practices" and reserved the right for the undersigned members to resign. After his remarks the mayor responded on the record, "I accept your resignation."

Adam Pauley of Aurora for Change announced organizers would begin circulating a petition to create a municipal recall mechanism for the mayor and aldermen at‑large. Pauley said organizers need 4,007 validated signatures within 40 days and asked registered voters to join circulation efforts. "We are beginning our petition circulation... We need between 4,007 petition signatures within these next 40 days," Pauley said.

Council did not take on‑the‑record investigative action during the meeting; the mayor accepted the resignation offered by Carrasco on behalf of AVAC members, and staff were directed (during the public‑comment instructions) to follow up with members of the public about concerns "within the scope of the city's authority" after adjournment.

These public comments occurred during the allotted public‑comment period; no formal votes were taken on the matters raised.