WESTOVER — Westover City Council voted 6-0 on Monday to censure 1st Ward Councilor Ralph Mullins.
While the issue did not appear on council’s agenda, Councilor Duane Tatar said he was making the motion to censure in response to Mullins’ actions during an executive session following the Feb. 22 meeting of council.
Tatar characterized Mullins’ behavior in contesting an instruction from Mayor Dave Johnson as “agitated, extreme and outrageous”
“Councilor Mullins refused to remain seated during council deliberations. Councilor Mullins addressed the mayor and other members of council in a loud, disorderly and disrespectful manner. Councilman Mullins made threats and threatening gestures to the chair as the chair was attempting to restore order,” Tatar said.
Mullins, who was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting, said the confrontation cited by Tatar occurred after he attempted to record the executive session.
Mullins said he refused when asked to turn off his recording device, in accordance to guidance from the West Virginia Ethics Commission, which said it’s up to the body in question whether such recordings can be made.
At the time of the Feb. 22 meeting, Westover had no council rule about recording executive sessions. It has since passed one.
“It’s shocking on one hand, but it isn’t. I don’t put anything past this administration and I don’t put anything past this city council, which has been absolutely complicit in every single wrongdoing,” Mullins said when contacted by The Dominion Post. “It’s amazing. Amazing that now they go and vote to censure me.”
According to Mullins, what started as a heated back-and-forth between him and Tatar was interrupted by Johnson, who cursed at him, approached and ultimately shoved him, forcing Police Chief Joe Adams to step between the two men.
Mullins said he has an audio recording of the entire exchange.
“I went to the state police barracks. I filed a complaint. I spoke with the trooper today … The state police is investigating the situation. The trooper told me today there have been people he’s trying to get witness statements from that are being reluctant,” Mullins said. “Of course they are. They’re either going to have to lie, or they know if they give a true statement it’s not going to be good for [Johnson].”
