Chamberlain banned from City Hall

RITZVILLE – A sitting city councilman is threatening legal action if the mayor continues to try to ban him from City Hall.

Ward No. 4 Councilman Dennis Chamberlain said May 17 that may have to resolve the access issue through the legal process if Mayor Linda Kadlec continues to try to prevent him from entering City Hall, 216 E. Main St.

For more than a month, Chamberlain has been attempting to work on city business remotely after Kadlec wrote a letter April 18 claiming she has the authority to ban him from the building.

“This is a formal notification of your immediate trespass from City Hall,” Kadlec wrote in that letter. “Please be advised that this notice has also been given to the Police Department. You shall not come to City Hall for any reason and if you do the Police will be called.”

The attempted banishment allegedly stems from an argument Chamberlain admits having with City Clerk/Treasurer Julie Flyckt over handing of paperwork in her office.

Of the incident, Chamberlain said last week that it “takes two to argue and I am not innocent.”

He also said he “did not break any laws.”

Since then, Chamberlain has been attending City Council meetings by remote connection.

The audio quality of the remote attendance is not ideal, and during the May 17 City Council meeting, Chamberlain had to abstain from voting on a motion because he could not adequately hear the discussion.

Kadlec disputes the fact Chamberlain is less effective trying to participate remotely.

“His effectiveness to do his job is not limited to the small amount of time a council member is physically present in City Hall,” she said.

Asked if there was a resolution to the situation, Kadlec said: “At the current time, there is not.

“Being a City Council member does not allow Mr. Chamberlain to attempt to control city staff and the city’s processes.“