The North Branch City Council adopted a censure of council member Kelly Neider during a special session on Wednesday night.
Water and Light commissioner and former city councilor Patrick Meacham filed a code-of-conduct complaint against Neider to the city attorney’s office on March 17.
Meacham’s complaint was in regards to a comment made by Neider that he shouldn’t serve on the commission due to a quote-unquote “personality defect.”
"The hearing should be about the statement and the sentiment that individuals that are diagnosed with mental illness are for some reason unable to serve on a volunteer board or commissions within our city," Meacham said.
Neider said she was "astounded" when the complaint was filed, and defended her position during a verbal statement.
"What I said, and I quote: 'What concerns me about that particular attitude ... is that I'd hate to see it carried over to a commission, and I think it lends itself to a personality defect, in my opinion, as far as leadership is concerned,'" Neider said. "That is exactly what I said."
The statement met the threshold of violating the code of conduct. The vote for the censure passed 3-1, with council member Peter Schaps as the lone no vote.
Neider also resigned as city council liaison to the Water and Light Commission.
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