Following a contentious August board meeting, friction between Green Park elected officials was once again evident at the city’s Sept. 16 Board of Aldermen meeting.

This began when the last item under the new business portion of the meeting – a resolution approving appointments of members of the Board of Adjustment of the City of Green Park – was brought up for discussion. After reading the ordinance, Mayor Tim Thuston explained the city’s need for the Board of Adjustment, though before any of the aldermen could make a motion to adopt the resolution, Ward 1 Alderman Michael Broughton took the floor.

“I’m opposed to Vinnie Rybar being on that committee, or any other committee for that matter,” Broughton said.

Despite Broughton’s opposition to Rybar’s appointment, Ward 3 Alderman and acting board president Joe Monteleone made a motion to adopt the resolution. Broughton asked if his motion would include Rybar’s appointment, to which Thuston replied: “It’s all or nothing. They’re the appointments that we selected.”

Ward 2 Alderman Tammy Witzig seconded Monteleone’s motion, prompting a vote. Monteleone, Witzig, Ward 1 Alderman Carol Hamilton and Ward 2 Alderman Ron Slattery voted in favor of the resolution, while Broughton voted opposed. Ward 3 Alderman Martin Finn did not vote as he was absent from the  meeting.

The motion passed 4-1, approving five new members and three new alternate members of the Board of Adjustment. Gary Throm, Judy DeWitt, Nathan Reinbold, Gabrielle Leggitt and Vinnie Rybar will serve as the board members, while Kevin Emberton, Josh Lang and Sandy Heidorn will serve as the alternates.

The clash escalated during the miscellaneous portion of the evening – where board members can bring up any topic they wish.

“I have one other question. Judging by what you read earlier, my understanding is you will no longer be involved in code enforcement. Is that correct?” Broughton asked Thuston, referring to an article written by Kevin O’Keefe for The Missouri Municipal Review, the MML’s official magazine, entitled “Roles and Responsibilities of Elected Officials.” Earlier in the meeting, Thuston had mentioned the article, reading an excerpt to the board.

“I’m not involved with code enforcement,” Thuston replied.

Broughton responded by reading a list of code enforcement situations that Thuston was involved with, going back to Oct. 2023. The two went back and forth until Broughton asked Thuston yet again: “are you involved with code enforcement?”

“I’m responsible for overseeing the code enforcement as I am with everything in the city,” Thuston said.

Broughton then asked Thuston if he was going out with the code enforcement officer on duty, insinuating that he should not be, according to the article shared.

“I do go out with the code enforcement (officer),” Thuston said. “I’m not the code enforcement officer, but I am responsible for the duties and responsibilities of all parts of our city – including the code enforcement officer. But I don’t give them direction. (William Dorsey, Green Park’s code enforcement officer) works with (office assistant) Kelsey (Moser). Kelsey directs it to Theresa (Pfyl, city clerk). Theresa reports it back to me. What is your point?”

“You have complained about the City of Green Park all the way back to 2015 and ‘14,” Thuston continued. “You’ve written letters to the editor, you don’t like our city, you don’t like your neighbors. You are the problem with code enforcement.”

There was more back and forth, with Witzig even stepping in at one point, before Broughton closed his thoughts.

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t be involved in stuff like that. What I’m saying is you shouldn’t be running these things if it’s the responsibility of the code enforcement person to do it. You just read that,” Broughton said.

“You’re out of line. You don’t understand what your position is,” Thuston responded.

The meeting was then quickly adjourned.