Red Bank Commissioner Monty Millard has said he will return to the job on Jan. 20, but some citizens don’t want him to return at all, according to Commissioner-at-large Ruth Jeno.
“I’ve had a lot of comments from citizens: For one, they’re extremely disappointed in him, and two, they think that he needs to step down, at the very least, step down as vice mayor,” Ms. Jeno said.
Mr. Millard was arrested Dec. 11 and booked on charges of aggravated criminal trespassing and leaving the scene of an accident after he reportedly violated a restraining order filed by his estranged wife.
Sonja Millard told police she thought he had been drinking. Mr. Millard said he was unaware of the court order to stay away from the house. He is scheduled to appear in Red Bank City Court on Jan. 12.
Mr. Millard could not be reached Tuesday for comment.
On Dec. 12, Mr. Millard voluntarily enrolled in a local treatment facility “for personal reasons, including divorce,” according to his brother Michael.
His brother plans to remain in office, Michael Millard said.
In a letter to City Manager Chris Dorsey, Monty Millard reportedly explained he was taking an extended leave and would be back in time for the commission’s second meeting in January. He also apologized for his conduct.
“I deeply regret the embarrassment that I have caused the City of Red Bank, my employer, and my family,” he wrote.
Ms. Jeno did not join the calls for his ouster, instead preferring to take a wait-and-see approach.
“If he can get his personal life straightened out, then I’m OK with him being there, but if he can’t and he has problems and he can’t function in the best interest of the city, then he needs to step down,” she said.
Commissioner Floy Pierce, who owns the home rented by Mr. Millard, said she has heard nothing but support for him and said those calling for his resignation are not in the majority.
“I have the beauty shop; I have the little gift shop, and everyone that we spoke to about it, they do not want him to step down,” she said. “I just feel very strongly about him having a chance to come back.”
Mayor Joe Glasscock, on the other hand, said he has received several complaints from citizens expressing “dismay,” but he has urged those he spoke with to wait until Mr. Millard’s return to make up their minds.
“There’s always two sides to a story, and I haven’t heard his side of the story,” he said. “Our great hope is that wherever he is, he is getting some help and he will come back and be a better commissioner.”
If public pressure continues, however, Mr. Glasscock said the commission could consider exercising a clause in the City Charter, allowing it to remove a fellow member from office “for grave misconduct showing unfitness for public duty.”
Newly elected commissioner Greg Jones, who was sworn in on Nov. 18, said he was surprised by the incident but needs to learn more about the situation before deciding what to do about it.
“I just want to make sure that everybody has all the facts and that we understand the case completely about what happened before any kind of decisions or conclusions are made,” he said.
