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Resident calls for Bucyrus councilman’s resignation during heated public comment; law director interrupts discussion
Summary
During Service Committee public comment, a resident alleged Councilman Chris Moritz repeatedly misled the council and residents about landlord liability for tenant water pass‑through charges and called for his resignation; the law director intervened and the chair ended public participation pending legal advice.
A resident publicly accused City Councilman Chris Raymond Moritz of misleading council and residents about whether landlords would be responsible for tenant pass-through water bills under recently passed legislation, and called for Moritz’s resignation. The allegation arose during the Service Committee’s public‑participation period and prompted immediate procedural intervention by the city’s law director.
At the meeting, a resident who identified himself as living at 65 South Spring Street said that during a 2½‑year revision process the councilman had repeatedly assured the public landlords would not remain liable; the resident said the final legislation left landlords responsible and that the councilman had “blatantly lied multiple times.” He asked the council to remove Moritz or for Moritz to resign.
The law director and the chair moved to curtail further discussion because legal action had been threatened; the law director stated that legal counsel could take the floor on procedural or legal questions and advised caution about discussing pending or threatened litigation. Moritz asked the resident to provide specific timestamps and meeting references for the alleged statements, and the law director said public participation would end so the committee could receive legal advice.
John Ernsberger, water distribution foreman, later told the committee he had attended the meetings cited and said his recollection differed from the resident’s account, underscoring that committee members and staff who worked on the water billing matter may have different recollections.
The committee did not take any disciplinary or removal action at the meeting; the matter was not resolved and members asked for documentary timestamps and said they would not proceed with further discussion while legal consequences were being raised. The meeting record shows the exchange concluded when the chair announced adjournment of the Service Committee and later reconvened as the Planning Committee.
