Heated Richwood Town Meeting

Monroe Dispatch sources shared words of an incident that allegedly happened between Mayor Gerald Brown and an alderperson, where the mayor allegedly "offered" the alderperson to go outside and settle their differences at the Thursday, February 25, 2021 town council meeting. Sources say that Brown and the alderperson had a lengthy and tense discussion about some issues facing the town that needed to be addressed. According to sources, at one point during the exchange, Brown allegedly got out of his seat at one end of the meeting table. The alderperson was seated at the end of the long table where council business is conducted, but according to sources, he did not leave his seat. Several alderpersons moved to "restrain" or hold back the mayor from advancing any further in the direction of the alderperson to whom he offered to go outside. It was alleged that Brown was willing to engage in a physical altercation with the alderperson, if that individual stepped outside. The alderperson, according to sources, made no motions or intentions to "accept" the offer by the mayor. Sources say that there was a strong disagreement between the two individuals over issues of paying outstanding debts owed by the town and some "liability issues" that should be investigated. There was also talk of lawsuits stemming from financial/fiscal issues. Sources say that Brown left the meeting area to cool down, but when he returned, he didn't offer any apologies to the alderperson(s) or to the citizens that were present for his alleged actions/behavior.

It was also alleged that at one point when the conversation ensued between the mayor and the alderperson, an unidentified individual at the meeting abruptly interrupted the ongoing conversation, asking questions concerning the status of Richwood police chief, Johnnie Cleveland. Cleveland, who is involved in legal issues of his own, has long been a point of contention for Richwood citizens because many feel that he is more of a part-time rather than a full-time police chief. Last year's 3-2 vote revealed that the town council wanted to replace Cleveland and search for a new police chief. The drive to replace Cleveland was rejected by the mayor. What made the exchange between Brown and the alderperson even more peculiar was that Brown did not ask that individual to sit down as he was speaking out of order. He also did not order any on-duty officers to warn the individual to stop talking or suggest that the individual be escorted out of the meeting. Sources say that the focus of the conversation appeared to be directly pointed to the alderperson, not the mayor. It was at this point, sources say, that instead of engaging in two conversations where it could become antagonistic, the alderperson, some said from frustration, left the meeting. The meeting would continue and later adjourn. That part of the meeting where the individual spoke at length uninterrupted reminded those who regularly attend council meetings of an incident almost two years ago. At that meeting, one of the town's respected citizens who participated in the meetings had her microphone forcibly taken away from her by Chief Cleveland. The woman alleged that she suffered injuries that needed medical attention. Nothing happened to the individual who interrupted last Thursday's town meeting.

Over the years, Richwood has had a number of controversies between the mayors and its governing body of alderpersons. There have also been fiscal issues in the past that required fiscal administrators to come and take over. Things had improved, and it seems that the town was ready to move forward, but much still needs to be done to/for the town. Sources say that the town should get a new police chief, lawyer, and CPA. They say that perhaps, too much power is in the mayor's hands, and that should change. Alderpersons seem to be there just to vote up/down on items pushed by the mayor. It appears that the citizens are being left out.