After public apology at Monday meeting, Willard Board of Aldermen move to impeach mayor

The Willard Board of Aldermen presented Mayor Sam Snider with a letter of impeachment Monday night. Citing various concerns about Snider's lack of effort to hire a city administrator and conduct, the letter begins the process to remove Snider from office.

Two weeks ago, at a special meeting, the board formally and unanimously censured the mayor for his attempted firing of an interim city administrator. Censure does not have any legal or monetary repercussions. Snider had fired the interim city administrator who was hired earlier in the week because he believed the hiring to be illegal as he was not at the meeting where she was hired to give his approval.

At the beginning of Monday's meeting, Snider addressed the board and made remarks about taking responsibility for his actions, apologizing for his conduct and committing to move forward with more understanding and a collaborative mentality.

"I will listen to all the voices at the table, because we all have a shared vision for Willard," he said. "A vision that preserves our values and makes room for progress."

City administrator drama continues

Snider's promises did not appear to make the difference he had hoped.

Alderman Sam Baird presented the letter of impeachment, signed by all members of the board, to Snider at the end of the meeting. He said that Snider's actions in the past week, after censure, are contrary to the sentiments he communicated during his remarks.

"I don't believe it," Baird told the News-Leader regarding Snider's remarks. "My guess is he probably saw this coming."

Snider became the city's, and likely the county's, youngest and first Black mayor when he was first elected in 2021 at age 25. He was re-elected in April.

The letter recounts a number of missteps throughout the year. According to the letter, Snider misrepresented the facts on the state Candidate's Affidavit of Tax Payment form by filing the form with unfiled and unpaid personal property taxes from 2022. Additionally, the letter states Snider has at least once, most recently in June, used his position to have a penalty fee against him waived for improper payment of utility fees. Mainly, they emphasize his lack of action to hire an interim or permanent city administrator.

Baird told the News-Leader after the meeting that after Snider's censure, he still made threats of firing interim city administrator Donna Stewart and made it essentially impossible for her to do her job. The letter states he created a hostile work environment and "told her he would never allow her to do the job of city administrator."

Baird said Stewart resigned because Snider not allowing her to carry out her responsibilities as interim city administrator.

The letter also outlines how Snider has "refused to consistently advertise" the position. Baird said this is damaging to the city and the board's ability to do anything effectively.

"We need several things happening that are not going to happen until we hire a city administrator," he said. "This is not done out of anger, out of spite. It's done out of frustration that we're not allowed to do what we need to, the important decisions are not being made."

Public expresses frustration

Three members of the public spoke during the meeting, though before the impeachment letter was announced. All three called for more action and less disagreement and vitriol.

Megan Applegate called the government and its previous actions "dysfunctional, sad and appalling" and reprimanded the board and mayor for using taxpayer money to "throw mud at each other." She commended Snider for apologizing and making his statement.

More: Willard Board of Aldermen censures mayor in quarrel over staffing

Olivia Roggensees asked the board: "What exactly has been done with all of you in office that has any worth to me?"

During Snider's two-and-a-half-year tenure, Baird said the city has seen unprecedented employee turnover across departments.

"I'm not saying it's all because of him, but ... under this administration we've lost people we should've never had lost," he said. "It's either I have to quit or we have to move forward, and I can't in good conscience leave this mess."

City Clerk Dona Slater previously told the News-Leader the city has been without a permanent city administrator since September 2022. While an interim administrator, Steve Bodenhamer, was put in place in October, he took up a project manager position with the city in the spring, leaving the role vacant once again.

Snider did not make any comment during the meeting regarding the impeachment and was not available for comment after.

A public impeachment hearing will be held Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center next to Jackson Street Park. In the event that Snider is impeached, Mayor Pro Tem Baird would take on the mayor role until the next election in April.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Willard Board of Aldermen begins process to remove mayor from office