By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA — The vice president of City Council filed a harassment complaint with police Thursday after receiving a recorded telephone message from the council president.
Council Vice President Betty Kist said she felt threatened, harassed and verbally abused regarding her position on the annexation of Wade Avenue after listening to President Rodger Altier’s phone message shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday.
The message dealt with the annexation debate that concluded last Monday with a negative vote by a majority of council members. The dissenting council members cited the need for a more-specific agreement with Saybrook Township over maintaining Wade Avenue.
Altier, who was absent from Monday’s meeting, had hoped and expected the annexation vote to pass. He expressed disappointment when it did not.
Consequently, Altier attempted to schedule a revote on the matter for council’s Monday night work session. Altier said Kist first agreed to it Thursday but then later changed her mind, saying she wanted to wait for the newly elected president to take office before voting on it again.
In the recording on Kist’s phone, Altier said Kist’s position that no such meeting should take place until president-elect Chuck Brockway takes office is “a crock of (expletive).” He further said: “The gloves are coming off at
the last (council) meeting (Nov. 16). I hope you are prepared for it because I’m coming after you now.”
Kist listened to the recorded message and called the police.
“The threats, telephone harassment and verbal abuse cannot continue,” she said Friday afternoon.
When contacted by phone Friday, Altier said the harassment complaint isn’t worthy of a comment. Altier just doesn’t understand Kist’s “let’s wait, let’s wait” attitude about an issue as important as the annexation of Wade Avenue.
Wade Avenue is where the Ashtabula-Area City School Board is building five new elementary schools. The first school is scheduled to open in fall 2011.
Altier said Kist wanted to wait for Ward 2 Councilman August Pugliese to take office, too. Now, she wants to wait for the new president.
“While we’re at it, let’s wait for the Second Coming,” he said.
When asked about possible charges, City Solicitor Michael Franklin said the crime of “menacing” is a threat of harm to another person, or to that person’s property. He doesn’t believe any “reasonable person” could take Altier’s phone message, in the context of a dispute between two members of the same legislative body over the business of that body, as a threat of physical violence, he said.
“Verbal attacks by one legislator on another’s conduct or position are part of the political process,” Franklin said. “Our republic is founded in part on the principle that a robust debate is not only desirable but is in fact necessary. Passions run high in the process, and sometimes intemperate words are uttered. The fact that they may be intemperate does not make them criminal.”
Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Rose said he doesn’t blame Kist for calling the police. Ward 3 Councilwoman Ericka Severino agreed with Rose.
“(Altier) can be relentless when wanting to strong-arm council with his opinion,” Severino said. “It’s unfortunate, but these are some of the reasons I’m relieved (I did not win the election). No one should have to tolerate this behavior.”
Ward 5 Councilman James Trisket said to the best of his knowledge, Altier is not a mean person.
“He’s never threatened me, and I have never felt pressured by him,” Trisket said.
