Without a police department to oversee and his influence with Bentleyville Council diminishing, Tom Brown resigned Monday night as borough mayor, a position he held for nearly 15 years.
Brown said Tuesday he decided to resign after more than two years of bickering with several new members on the council and being either ignored or "laughed at" when he made a suggestion.
"I just got to the point where I was embarrassed to what has been going on," Brown said. "It was just time."
He was barred from sitting at the table with the rest of council and asked to sit with the audience, but that decision was overturned. He later decided to sit in front of the audience at a table facing the council.
Brown said the feud appears to stem from council's decision in January 2006 to disband the borough police department. He considers that action to be a disaster and suggested it has led to increased crime in the town of about 2,500 people.
He said an armed robbery at a Chinese restaurant on Aug. 16 and an assault and robbery a few minutes later solidified his decision to resign.
"That shouldn't happen in a small town," he said. "I know you're going to have crime no matter where you are, but at least if you have a police presence the bad guys know they might get caught."
Brown said he has pleaded with the council members to restore the police department but was told there wasn't enough money in the budget. He disputed that claim, saying thousands of dollars was used to pave borough roads.
"It's just something where I felt I was no use to Bentleyville," Brown said. "Now it's time for the citizens to take back what's rightfully theirs - a police department - and put pressure on the council or get them out of office."
Council President Lena Greenfield said she did not know the reasons behind Brown's resignation at Monday night's borough meeting. Vice President Henry Wilson acknowledged there were problems between the mayor and council, but nothing unusual with local government.
"Just working things out. Everyone has problems," Wilson said. "I didn't have nothing against him. I got along with Tom."
Brown said he is not angry, but he said he is both sad and relieved his term as mayor is over. He does not plan to attend any future council meetings or offer his opinion.
"You want to help the community and do something to advance it. I haven't been able to do that," Brown said. "The previous council, we were able to talk things out."
Council must schedule a special meeting within the next 30 days to appoint a new mayor.