NEW Jan 19, 2018
Four petitions, each containing over 50 pages of signatures, were filed with the Windcrest City Secretary on Friday, January 19th. Three of those petitions were for recalls of City Council Members: Gerd Jacobi, James McFall, and Jim Shelton. The fourth petition was a referendum of the council action on October 16, 2017, which was the effort to establish the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Department Bugle Crew in direct violation of the Windcrest Code of Ordinances.
All three council members being recalled (Gerd Jacobi, James McFall and Jim Shelton) participated in votes which are considered to be in conflict with either the Windcrest Home Rule Charter or in a standing City Ordinance. These men were also obstructing the business of the city by denying new council members information about current city business. They tabled agenda items so that the new council members could not represent their constituents and do their jobs for which the voters elected them.
The signatures gathered for the recall petitions more than surpassed the required 25% of the voters in the last Mayoral election and the referendum petition signatures were nearly 50% more than needed.
After certification of the signatures, each council member being recalled can resign immediately or request a public hearing. However, despite a public hearing, the Windcrest Home Rule Charter states that the “City Council shall order a recall election” if City Council Members Jacobi, McFall, and Shelton refuse to resign.
