Melissa McGuire stands to read a statement at Monday's meeting of the Mt. Jewett Borough Council. McGuire, president of the Mt. Jewett Ambulance Association, called for council to begin "working as a team for the citizens of Mt. Jewett."

MT. JEWETT -- A cantankerous Mt. Jewett Borough Council appears to have fallen into dire straits with a division that shows no signs of waning.

The council met Monday to conduct borough business, but instead spent much of the time hung up on its own divisive issues.

Here are some examples of comments and action at the tension-filled meeting:

• Councilman Chuck Paar read a searing three-page statement in which he called for the resignation of Councilwoman Kathy Martin.

• Melissa McGuire, president of the Mt. Jewett Ambulance Association and a former council member, read a three-page statement is which she said "it's time this council starts working as a team for the citizens of Mt. Jewett and not for what appears to be their own personal agenda or gain."

• Council President Dick Danielson read a one-page letter that he sent to council members in a attempt to "unify" the legislative board.

"When we are all in concert regarding our task, then I will be proud of each of you and I will know that Mt. Jewett is healthy and sound once again," Danielson said in his letter to his colleagues.

• By a 4-2 vote, council defeated a motion to appoint Councilman Brett Morgan as the council vice president in place of Councilman Wil Antrim.

Martin made the motion to appoint Morgan to the post. Danielson seconded the motion. Only Martin and Morgan supported the motion. Danielson, who voted last, joined Councilmen Pete Crowley, Paul Ewing and Paar in voting against the motion. Antrim did not attend the meeting. Danielson did not explain why he seconded the motion to replace Antrim and then voted against it.

This motion touched off a brief debate between Paar and Martin.

Paar asked Martin why she believes Antrim should be replaced as vice president of the council. Antrim is a past council president.

Martin said she endorses Morgan for the position because "I want someone younger" as vice president. Morgan is 21; Antrim is 66. Martin said the appointment of Morgan would "foster youth." She also believes that Antrim is "lacking commitment" for the position.

Paar disagreed. He said Antrim "hasn't done anything to warrant this kind of action" to remove him as vice president. He later said that Martin has been "trying to throw him (Antrim) under the bus."

Crowley, who was appointed to council just last month and voted then to replace Antrim with Morgan, said Monday that he would vote against a change in vice president because he doesn't see why Antrim "needs to be replaced."

A vote last month to appoint Morgan to replace Antrim as vice president ended in a 3-3 tie. Martin, Crowley and Danielson voted in favor of the leadership change. Ewing, Paar and Antrim voted against the motion. Morgan did not vote and a 3-3 tie was declared.

Borough Solicitor Dan Hartle advised council last month to table a decision until he could conduct research to determine whether a nominee could vote on the appointment. Hartle said Monday that a person nominated for a position could vote. This ruling led to Morgan's vote for himself.

Council split 3-3 in January on its vote for vice president between Antrim and Morgan. Due to a council vacancy, this tie vote was broken by Mayor Tom Geer, who endorsed Antrim for the post.

Paar's statement Monday came near the end of the meeting at the Mt. Jewett Memorial Library.

In addition to calling for Martin's resignation, Paar placed blame on Morgan.

"I am sick and tired of watching two people (Martin and Morgan) treat this council as if it were their own personal chessboard with the other members-- and the whole town for that matter--nothing but pawns."

"I hide not behind any woman's skirt nor do I need a youngster to do my bidding for me," Paar said. "I am capable of thinking and reasoning for myself and therefore can speak and act on my own."

Paar referred to council as a "dog and pony show." He said he is "disgusted" because of council's "revolving door." The seven-member council has had 12 different members in the past year.

Paar, who was elected to council last November, claims that the "majority of unrest, turmoil and strife" on council "can be directly traced to one person (Martin)."

He said he is calling for Martin's resignation "in order that we might embark on a new dispensation of stability."

Members in the audience of 10 applauded at the end of Paar's remarks.

Martin, who is beginning her seventh year on council, appeared to be flabbergasted by Paar's statement.

A retired Kane school teacher, Martin pointed out that it takes a majority vote of council to pass resolutions and motions.

"One person doesn't run council," she said. When asked if she would resign from council, she emphatically said "no."

Morgan said he is "not bothered" by Paar's criticism even though he believes "it is wrong" to chastise council members at a public forum.

"He made council look like a bunch of fools," Morgan said. "We can disagree, but he's shouldn't be bashing people."

Danielson, who was elected as council president last month after former Council President Ben Bartlein resigned from council, said he is "disgusted" by Paar's verbal attack on Martin and Morgan.

He said he may explore avenues to criticize Paar for his remarks.

"We can't fire him, but we can reprimand him," Danielson said. Danielson and Paar are next-door neighbors on West Main Street.

Geer, who has been mayor for a decade, is appalled by the divisive borough council.

"If they can't work together, we'll never make any headway," he said.