Council schedules removal hearing for Council Member Melody Miller after formal charges motion

Council Member Eric Double read a written statement into the record and moved that the Lodi Village Council bring formal charges of "disorderly conduct and gross misconduct" against Council Member Melody Miller and schedule an administrative removal hearing at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The motion also sought Miller's suspension pending the hearing. The motion text cites Lodi Police Department Case File 07-26000092 (May 2026) and states that a law enforcement recommendation was made to the Village Prosecutor regarding an alleged Making False Alarms charge under ORC 2917.32; the motion presents those points as allegations to be considered at the hearing.

"I move that this Council bring formal charges of disorderly conduct and gross misconduct against Council Member Melody Miller," Council Member Eric Double read from the submitted motion. The roll call on the motion was YEAS: Eric Double, DeMell and Surrarrer; NAYS: Miller and Ridenour; ABSTAIN: Gorglione. The council recorded the motion and proceeded to discuss whether the village solicitor should review the procedure to confirm statutory compliance before the hearing.

The motion requests that a written copy of the charges and accompanying evidence be formally served to the accused within statutory timeframes and that council vote to suspend Miller pending the final outcome of the hearing. Council did not resolve procedural questions raised about the proper step-by-step process; the body referred those questions to the village solicitor for determination. The meeting adjourned after the referral.