05/07/2024 Town Council Meeting – Two Issues Come to a Head

May 8, 2024

While much attention has been given to the Board of Education over the past few months, and I am thrilled to see the public interest and parent engagement BHCW has been working to increase is booming, interesting developments have been occurring over at the Town Council.

During last night’s Town Council Meeting, two brewing issues came to a Head.

Some Background:

In January when Councilman Donnelly ended up abstaining from a vote on a Judge after being instructed his participation in the vote would be a conflict of interest during a Town Council Meeting.

In an email, Councilman Donnelly released to BHCW, after the meeting he wrote:

I felt that I was deprived of my right as a councilman to properly vote and influenced to abstain, which I did. I have a right to vote for professional services and believe this should go back for a re-vote at the next meeting. I was elected to represent the people of our town, and if I see that something is off, I’m entitled to voice it. That’s why I was voted in.

This matter, connected to the complaint referenced, reared its head again in a February Meeting during a discussion on a trespassing ordinance. In this discussion, the Councilman and Mayor sparred on the propriety of the matter being discussed within the context of Township business during a public meeting.

During the 04/22/2024 Council Meeting, Councilman Donnelly took issue with a vote on appointing the Township Administrator as Acting CFO. The basis of his objection was that his consent was not sought, while the Mayor, Councilwoman Poage and Councilwoman Illis made various points, including that the appointment was short-term and that Mr. Donelly could have called a meeting at any time to discuss the appointment.

Last night, Councilman Donnelly’s concerns connected to the Court Administrator and BHPD’s handling of his case AND the appointment of the Township Administrator as Acting CFO came together raising more questions about what is going on at Town Hall than quelling suspicions.

The catalyst was a vote to appoint the Township Administrator as a Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA). A QPA is someone authorized to buy shit for the town.