Hours before her fate as a council member was set to be determined at a June 4 meeting, an Elsmere city councilwoman resigned from her position effective immediately, according to an email sent to The Enquirer and other city council members.
Serena Owen, who was serving her second term on Elsmere’s city council submitted her letter of resignation after months during which she was accused of misconduct and missed meetings.
“I am writing to formally submit my resignation from my position as a Councilwoman for the City of Elsmere, effective immediately,” Owen wrote. “This decision has not been made lightly but is necessitated by the escalating challenges that have profoundly impacted my ability to serve effectively and safely,”
Owen said her resignation comes as a result of her fear of being shot at a public meeting by a man she claims has harassed her online, and her “repeated and justified requests for a minimal inexpensive ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) hybrid video teleconference accommodation to attend council meetings virtually (free Zoom/Teams link)” being dismissed.
In March, the six-member Elsmere City Council unanimously voted to begin proceedings to remove Owen from office. Since then, they’ve announced seven charges against her including willful negligence and misconduct.
A public meeting was set to be held June 4 from 6-7 p.m. to discuss the removal of Owen from her position on the council.
The Enquirer reached out to the City of Elsmere’s city clerk Katie Hehman, who declined to confirm the resignation.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Elsmere city councilwoman resigns after alleged misconduct and missed meetings
Reporting by Hailey Roden, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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