NEWTON FALLS, Ohio - Two Newton Falls council members who were among those who walked out from Monday's council meeting during a contentious dispute with Mayor Kenneth Kline have sent a letter to council demanding Kline's removal from office.

In the seemingly never-ending drama that has become Newton Falls politics, the two—Tarry Alberini, council-at-large and Sandra Breymaier, 4 th Ward—accuse Kline in the letter of "gross misconduct." Breymaier, who is the subject of a recall effort and Alberini say Kline's actions in the meeting constitute violations of the village charter. A May 12 hearing date has been scheduled for council to review and possibly remove Kline from office.

Contents of the letter, which was signed by Alberini and Breymaier, were made available Friday evening to WFMJ by village Manager David Lynch.

The walkout began after 1 st Ward Councilman Adam Zimmermann sought to overturn Kline's ruling that Breymaier could not speak during the meeting. Kline subsequently ordered police to remove Zimmermann, which led to the walkout of the three council members and Law Director A. Joseph Fritz who was acting as clerk for the meeting at the time.

It's what happened with Fritz that forms the basis of the misconduct accusation. As the council members were walking out, Kline reportedly told Fritz that he could leave and "there's the door." When the law director asked if he was being removed from the meeting, the mayor allegedly replied "yes." That, Alberini and Breymaier claim, constitutes gross misconduct. Kline subsequently declared a quorum existed and joined the vote to submit the recall petitions to the Trumbull Board of Elections even though only two other council members present, which is below the three required for a quorum.

Lynch said Fritz's role was "transmittal of the letter to council only" on behalf of Alberini and Breymaier. Alberini told 21 News that his decision to seek Kline's removal "isn't based on the recall, but based on the conduct of the meeting." Messages left for Breymaier and Fritz were not returned. However, the mayor was anything but reticent in discussing his reaction to the attempt to oust him. "It's kind of odd that I'd get a letter from the law director," he told 21 News. "He's supposed to be neutral with the community and not political." As for council, "they want a rubber stamp," the mayor said. "They've been corrupt forever."

Meanwhile, the Board of Elections has scheduled a special meeting for this Monday, April 26 at 9 a.m. to determine whether to certify the petitions for Breymaier's recall. There is a possibility that the board may reject them if it rules there was no quorum for the vote despite the mayor's statement that there was. The situation was reviewed by the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office, which refused comment to 21 News Friday citing "lawyer-client privilege." Stephanie Penrose, board director, also declined comment.