GALION—The regularly scheduled Galion City Council meeting was held Tuesday evening. The meeting was peaceful until Councilwoman Kara Ault asked for an update on the bike path issue between the city and the Keller trust:
“I would like to Address, I guess, I know the law director isn’t here, but last council meeting we had quite a bit of news delivered to us, and there’s been quite a bit of coverage. So I guess, I didn’t know if there’s any updates from the administration that you’d like to share about the issue with Mr. Keller,” Ault said.
Mayor O’Leary responded: “There’s been an exchange of emails. There’s a price established. I don’t know quite what will be the next step. The last comment in the email responding to the comment was that he’ll wait a period of time before his next step so anyway….”
Councilwoman Paula Durbin asked if an apology was issued to Keller.
“No, I don’t know, from you?” O’Leary asked.
“NO, from YOU. Why not?” Durbin replied.
“Because I don’t believe there was anything said that really needs an apology. There’s a whole other side to it,” O’Leary said.
Durban continues to press the Mayor, asking him to explain the side that no one seems to see. O’Leary only reinforced that the law Director was absent.
“You know what? You need to resign. Your behavior was horrible and it’s getting worse it’s not getting better,” Durbin said.
Melissa Frank-Elwell pointed to a letter Council received from a concerned citizen. “This letter warrants a response. Here’s a concerned citizen who wants a statement.”
Councilmen Ken Bodkins and Mike Richard agreed with Mayor. They didn’t want to read the letter because the author’s signature was unclear, and there was no address.
Sources tell Crawford County now that the Mayor became belligerent with the group after the cameras were off. O’Leary’s tirade left other council members agreeing to call for his resignation.
Among them is Carrie Zeger, who made this post on the Galion City Watch Facebook page after the meeting:
“I am also asking for the Mayor’s resignation. I am so tired of how he treats people. Tonight after the cameras went off, he went to the council clerk, Julie bell, and was telling her she should not have given Council this letter. However, this letter came in an envelope addressed to Council. Anytime there’s something addressed to Council, is to go to Council. Julie Bell does not work for Tom O’Leary she works for Council. She was doing her job and did not deserve the words spoken to her tonight. Looks like the Mayor is building a list of who he should be apologizing to. First Dave Keller and now Julie Bell. The Mayor is a control freak. He needs to understand that every person that works in that building works for him,” Zeger said.
Paula Durbin posted the following comment:
“The Mayor was amused that I asked him to resign because in his mind, he claims he did nothing wrong. So building a city walking/ bike path on private property is not wrong? My concern is the weather has done other under the table deals we don’t know about.
The letter we received was from a citizen who expressed concern, and they are absolutely right. O’Leary has never taken responsibility for anything in his life. He uses bullying, intimidation, and threats to get what he wants. He does not care about the city, only what he wants. He tries to control everyone and everything.”
According to sources, other council members are considering asking for O’Leary’s resignation.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing story.