Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
Greenville Mayor Brittni Brown has responded to the events of Wednesday, May 31, during which a Greenville Town Council Member, Calvin Malone, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. “I felt the need to make an 'official' response as Mayor of the Town of Greenville that the Greenville Town Council does not condone the actions of Council Member Malone,” said Mayor Brown.
In her letter, Mayor Brown makes reference to the fact that the Greenville Town Council does not have the legal authority to remove a sitting town council member. According to the Greenville Town Charter, “A Town Council person may be suspended and/or removed from office by the Governor pursuant to chapter 112, part V, Fla. Stat., and a suspension by the Governor creates a temporary vacancy which shall be filled by appointment by majority vote of the Town Council. The appointed person shall hold office for a time period equal to the first occurring of the end of the elected term of the suspended person or the end of the period of the suspension. No person who has been suspended may perform any official act, duty, or function during the suspension, or receive any pay, allowance, or emolument during the suspension. Upon conviction, as defined in chapter 112, Fla. Stat., such person shall be removed from office by the Governor and shall be ineligible to again stand for election during the next immediate election. Upon acquittal, the Town Council member shall be restored and shall receive back pay only for the elected term of office during which the Town Council person was suspended, and if the elected term of office has ended, the Town Council member shall not be restored to office but may again seek to qualify and stand for election. A vacancy without resignation may occur pursuant to the uniform statewide recall provisions of section 100.361, Fla. Stat., and said vacancy shall be filled pursuant to section 100.361, Fla. Stat.”
The next meeting of the Greenville Town Council is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The meeting is set to take place at Greenville Town Hall, located at 154 SW Old Mission Ave., in Greenville.