Tonight in Baldwin, the Board of Alderman upheld the mayor’s recommendation to terminate the town clerk on grounds of insubordination among other allegations.

Chrystal Willis, the former full-time clerk opted for an open public meeting tonight discuss the grounds of her termination. 

“There were some things that we discussed she was doing that we’re not acceptable for the clerk,” says Mayor Lanceslin. She claims Crystal Willis, the former clerk, was making decisions with other municipalities and scheduling meetings without the mayor being notified among other allegations. 

Issues between the City of Baldwin’s mayor and town clerk came to head at a council meeting on July 12.

This meeting came after the Mayor Lanceslin deviled Willis a letter saying her jobs was being terminated. 

“The fact that you placed your signature on these allegations states that you have documentation and proof that I did these things that you alleged. If not, this is liable and it is slanderous and is done with intent to defame my character and diminish the benefit that I’ve been to this town sall since I’ve been here.  Where’s the documentation?” asked Willis during the meeting. 

A motion then passed. 

Following an executive session, Alderwomen Margaret Coleman asked Willis if she would be able to return to work with the mayor and staff. 

Willis answered, “I do not feel comfortable answering that question without legal representation.”

Alderman Grim motioned to uphold the mayor’s recommendation to terminate the clerk and Alderman Bell seconded.

In the end, a 4 to 1 vote in favor of the recommendation made the termination of Willis’s job official. 

Following the meeting, she said “I feel great. I feel great because my father instilled in me that you always leave a place better than it was when you found it, and I can say that I successfully did that.”

During the meeting, Alderman Grim said he felt the Mayor Lanceslin gave Willis multiple chances, but in the end, the board said documentation did prove insubordination.