MILTON, Fla. — The Milton City Council voted on Tuesday night to pass two resolutions, saying the mayor lied and abused her powers.
The vote to pass them was 6 to 2.
It means the official complaints made against Mayor Heather Lindsay will be submitted to the state Commission on Ethics.
The vote happened so fast in a matter of minutes.
Usually, during these city council meetings there’s public comment.
But Tuesday night, no one spoke publicly in support or in opposition of the mayor.
In fact, there was no sign of her at all during the meeting.
State Rep. Alex Andrade is the attorney for the City of Milton.
Two weeks ago, WEAR News last reported on complaints made by city employees about Mayor Lindsay.
Tuesday night, there was no sign of her at the meeting.
A 9-page memorandum from Rep. Andrade accused the mayor of committing perjury and publishing false claims about him.
It cites months of erratic and abusive behavior by Mayor Lindsay which led to a toxic and abusive atmosphere at city hall.
“I think the big concern and harm here is the position of public trust elected officials are supposed to maintain,” Rep. Andrade said.
Rep. Andrade says several council members asked what recourse is available to address the behavior.
“City council, at their working meeting a few weeks ago, directed me to start putting together and researching different instances or examples of the mayor’s misconduct over the past year,” Rep. Andrade said.
In the document, Rep. Andrade asked for the council to authorize him to request a review by a state agency, the Florida attorney general, and the Florida Commission on Ethics.
“The advice I’ve given to the city council is there’s credible evidence that the mayor has committed perjury,” Rep. Andrade said. “And she’s also engaged in a pattern of abuse and toxic activity related to city staff members. She’s also taken steps to undermine the will of the city council.”
Rep. Andrade says the resolutions will be sent up the chain, and submitted, along with the complaints, to the attorney general’s office where they will be reviewed.
Rep. Andrade said city councilmembers do have the political option to call for a recall election of the mayor, if it comes to that.
