NOEL, MO.--- "This whole thing was wrong, just wrong."
Nancy Zeorlin serves as a Noel city council member. She says a conflict began on the council weeks ago with the Aldermen refused to allow zoning for a new low income housing project.
"It was brought up, put on the floor and it died because none of us would second it. I knew the mayor, he was visibly upset," states Zeorlin.
According to city council members, Mayor James Carroll called for a meeting on Friday morning to vote on the issue again but without enough notice required by law. When Zeorlin refused to attend the meeting that she considered illegal, the town marshal showed up at her door.
"He got the cuffs out, he hand cuffed me, he started reading me my rights and I said, 'Gee, I know my rights but I can tell you what you're doing right now is illegal," says Zeorlin.
Zeorlin was then taken by law enforcement to City Hall as requested by the mayor. When fellow council member, John Lafley discovered what was happening, he voluntarily showed up at the meeting.
"They were expecting to have a tie vote and the mayor would break it but when I heard they were just bringing two in, I showed up," states Lafley.
The issue failed to pass for the second time, but Aldermaen Zeorlin says she feels like her rights were violated by both the mayor and the town marshal.
"Politics is not about friendship, but to me, this way, I deserve better. I mean, I truly believe that. Anybody would deserve better than that," states Zeorlin.
"He know what he did was wrong. There are 5 or 6 laws in there that he broke just by cuffing her and taking her. Putting her in the car, that's kidnapping," states Lafley.
We have made several attempts to contact Mayor James Carroll since last Friday, he has not returned our calls. Zeorlin and Lafley both believe the mayor should resign from his position. The next Noel City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, October 9th.
Nancy Zeorlin serves as a Noel city council member. She says a conflict began on the council weeks ago with the Aldermen refused to allow zoning for a new low income housing project.
"It was brought up, put on the floor and it died because none of us would second it. I knew the mayor, he was visibly upset," states Zeorlin.
According to city council members, Mayor James Carroll called for a meeting on Friday morning to vote on the issue again but without enough notice required by law. When Zeorlin refused to attend the meeting that she considered illegal, the town marshal showed up at her door.
"He got the cuffs out, he hand cuffed me, he started reading me my rights and I said, 'Gee, I know my rights but I can tell you what you're doing right now is illegal," says Zeorlin.
Zeorlin was then taken by law enforcement to City Hall as requested by the mayor. When fellow council member, John Lafley discovered what was happening, he voluntarily showed up at the meeting.
"They were expecting to have a tie vote and the mayor would break it but when I heard they were just bringing two in, I showed up," states Lafley.
The issue failed to pass for the second time, but Aldermaen Zeorlin says she feels like her rights were violated by both the mayor and the town marshal.
"Politics is not about friendship, but to me, this way, I deserve better. I mean, I truly believe that. Anybody would deserve better than that," states Zeorlin.
"He know what he did was wrong. There are 5 or 6 laws in there that he broke just by cuffing her and taking her. Putting her in the car, that's kidnapping," states Lafley.
We have made several attempts to contact Mayor James Carroll since last Friday, he has not returned our calls. Zeorlin and Lafley both believe the mayor should resign from his position. The next Noel City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, October 9th.
Comments
The people deserve an explanation . Are we being represented fairly?
Wyndy W.
October 2, 2012 at 12:48 pm
