Louisville City Wire

Louisville – In response to today’s request, President Markus Winkler (D-17) has formally established an Ad Hoc Charging Committee.

The Committee is comprised of Councilwoman Cindi Fowler (D-14), Councilwoman Paula McCraney (D-7), Councilman Andrew Owen (D-9), Councilman Pat Mulvihill (D-10), and Councilwoman Betsy Ruhe (D-21).

The responsibility of this Committee is to review the evidence and determine whether formal removal charges should be filed against Councilman Anthony Piagentini (R-19).

Louisville Metro Council Removal Hearing Rules and Procedures

Rule 3:        The five (5) or more members preferring charges shall be designated the Charging Committee and shall be responsible for presenting the charges and evidence to the full Council sitting as a court. The Charging Committee shall designate one or more of its members as its chair/co-chair. The Charging Committee may use their legislative aides and shall be provided independent legal counsel to assist it in conducting any further investigation necessary for the presentation of the case to the remaining members of the Council, excluding the Respondent, which body shall be designated the Council Court. The County Attorney shall act as counsel to the Council Court and advise the Chair of the Council Court and its members on all legal matters related to the removal proceedings. The County Attorney shall cause the oath required by KRS 67C.143 to be administered to the Council Court members before the members enter upon their duties as the Council Court. The Metro Council Clerk shall act as the Clerk of the Council Court (the Clerk) and shall be the repository of all records, pleadings, and evidence related to the removal proceeding.

Rule 5:      Within thirty (30) days after the date of the regular Council meeting at which the removal charges against the Respondent are delivered to the Council, the Charging Committee will file with the Clerk, with copies to the Respondent or Respondent's Counsel and the County Attorney, a written statement signed by its chairperson stating whether it is ready to proceed with the hearing or whether it requires additional time to complete its investigation and the reason(s) for the extension. If the Charging Committee reports it is ready to proceed, the Chair shall convene the Council Court as soon as practical for the purpose of scheduling a time for the hearing on the removal charges within sixty (60) days after said Council Court session. In the event the Charging Committee requests additional time to complete its investigation, the Chair may grant an extension of time not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, with notice of such extension to Respondent, after which the Chair will convene the Council Court as soon as practical to schedule a hearing date within sixty (60) days. The parties, Respondent and the Charging Committee, and the County Attorney shall be given written notice of the date, time, and place of every Council Court session.

Should the Charging Committee determine to proceed with formal removal charges, it is possible that these charges may not be presented to the Metro Council until early 2024. The first Metro Council meeting of the upcoming year is scheduled for Thursday, January 4, 2024.

Original source can be found here.