Dawson mayor announces resignation
DAWSON – Ken Ridgely announced his resignation as mayor Monday and borough police officer Roger Adams, in a telephone interview following the meeting, said he would do the same at a special council meeting Nov. 4. Ridgely explained his surprise resignation by saying, “This is very personal because I’m not one to make bad feelings. But I do want to apologize to the residents of Dawson because I can not finish my term.”
Ridgely said although he can’t disclose all of the reasons for his resignation, he did say that he is disappointed that he didn’t receive more cooperation from council and Adams.
“Just let me say this, in local government, if people don’t unite, they never get anywhere. That’s one reason that Dawson is in the shape it’s in today,” Ridgely said. “Some people just don’t cooperate and they don’t believe in cooperating.”
Ridgely ran last year for the office against incumbent mayor Pat Trimble, beating him 34 votes to 32 votes. However, Ridgely said he didn’t actually run for office.
“My name was placed on the ballot as a write-in candidate by someone other than myself,” he said. “And as long as that person thought that I was going to do what she wanted me to do, she was O.K. with me being mayor.
“But when I decided to speak up for myself, then she wasn’t happy. I don’t operate like that. So that’s another reason why I decided to resign.”
Ridgely told council that he also had a problem getting in touch with Adams when he needed him.
Adams, on the other hand, said he has always been available to Ridgely and to council by phone. “I really try to return all phone calls, but recently I have been so busy I haven’t had the time,” said Adams.
“I know that I haven’t worked as a police officer in Dawson over the past month, but I haven’t turned in a bill either because I haven’t been there,” he said.
Adams said he doesn’t want to waste council’s time or get into a conflict. He said the people on council are “good people” and that’s why he’s going to turn in his resignation at the special meeting.
Adams said he’s sure that council will be surprised when they read about his plans in the morning newspaper.
“With my duties as code enforcement officer for Bullskin and Dunbar townships, my security business, my private investigation services and my job at Warehouse Groceries, I simply don’t have the time that Dawson council wants me to devote to police protection in the borough,” said Adams.
“My other services are getting to be too much. When I took the job in Dawson, they knew that I didn’t have a lot of time to devote to police work. I don’t want them to think that I don’t appreciate the opportunity to serve them, but I simply don’t have the time anymore,” he concluded.
In other matters, council:
– Agreed to meet in special session Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. to name a new mayor. Anyone interested in the job is asked to submit a letter of interest to council at the borough building. Solicitor Richard Husband said if council is unable to reach a decision on who should be the next mayor the issue will go to the borough vacancy board, which is comprised of council and one other resident. If the vacancy board can not reach a decision within 15 days the decision then falls on Fayette County Court judges. In the meantime, council president Patty Lint will perform the duties of the mayor, according to Husband.
Set trick or treat for Oct. 26 from noon to 2 p.m.
– Agreed to fall cleanup on Nov. 2. Anything that can be bagged will be picked up that day.
– Learned that a Galley Street resident found their dog hanging by its neck from a tree in their yard Sept. 13. Councilwoman Phyllis Newill said the case has been turned over to the state police at Belle Vernon. Newill additionally said that the dog was stoned prior to being hanged.