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Kings Mountain Council votes 5-2 to initiate censure process for a council member
Summary
At a special April 2 meeting, the Kings Mountain City Council voted 5-2 to begin a formal censure process for a member of the governing body; the city attorney said written grievances must be received mid-week next week and that outside counsel would be engaged if a grievance is filed.
The Kings Mountain City Council voted 5-2 on April 2 to initiate a formal censure process for a member of the governing body.
City Attorney Mickey Corry told the council that a censure is a public resolution of condemnation and reviewed the statutory requirement for the council to adopt a Code of Ethics. He said the council's most recent Code of Ethics policy was adopted Feb. 25, 2025 and reaffirmed by Resolution 25-46 at the council's Dec. 9, 2025 organizational meeting.
Mr. Corry outlined the proposed steps: a majority vote to initiate; receipt of written grievances by mid-week the following week; presentation of a contract to hire outside counsel at the April 14 regular council meeting if a grievance is filed; delivery of a copy of the allegations to the member who is the subject of the complaint (which will be public record); an outside investigation; a council hearing at which findings will be read and the member may rebut; and a subsequent council vote on whether to censure. Corry told the council the overall timeline for the process is unknown and emphasized the need for the process to be "clean and transparent."
Councilmember Annie Thombs moved to begin the censure process and Councilmember Jay Rhodes seconded. The motion passed 5-2; Councilmembers Scott Neisler and Heather Lemmond cast the dissenting votes. Mr. Corry also briefly reviewed the amotion (removal) process as a separate procedure that seeks removal of a councilmember.
The council's next procedural step, as stated in the meeting, is to accept written grievances by mid-week next week; if a grievance is filed, council staff will present a contract to engage outside counsel at the April 14 regular meeting.
