The London City Council adopted a resolution amending charges of misconduct and willful neglect against Mayor Randall Weddle during a special-called meeting Friday. The resolution lists 11 charges against Weddle under KRS 83A.040(9).
The primary change to the resolution is the relocation of the public hearing. The hearing, previously scheduled to take place at the Laurel County Courthouse, is now slated for Friday, Sept. 5, at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Circuit Judge Gregory A. Lay at the Laurel County Judicial Center. Former Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Lambert has been appointed as hearing officer, with Attorney Christopher Wiest serving as counsel.
Before the vote, Weddle’s attorney, Carmine Iaccarino, objected “in the strongest possible terms” to the process, arguing the shifting charges and late amendments deprived the mayor of due process. He called the council’s handling of the matter “a rushed, irregular, and overtly political process” that substitutes “the judgment of a handful of council members for that of the electorate.”
Iaccarino also raised concerns about the hearing being held in a courtroom, warning that the setting would limit public participation. He further argued the mayor may not be allowed to call witnesses in his own defense.
“To prevent an elected official from calling witnesses in a removal hearing is nothing short of authoritarian and will not withstand legal scrutiny,” he said, formally entering the objections into the record and reserving the mayor’s right to seek immediate relief.
The charges alleged against Weddle include:
— After removing three Housing Authority members in October 2023 and pledging to swiftly fill the seats, Weddle did not attempt to do so for 19 months, only acting after being contacted by federal officials in May 2025.
— In July 2025, Weddle appointed members to the Housing Authority without council approval and gave them four-year terms instead of staggered terms required by law.
— Weddle convened a meeting of the improperly constituted Housing Authority board, which then hired an attorney and authorized spending of funds.
* — Weddle directed Housing Authority employees not to comply with applicable rules and allegedly stated he was “not dcking around.”
— Weddle misused the police department to create or continue a personal protection detail that appeared designed to intimidate residents.
— Weddle did not hold regularly scheduled council meetings in March, April and May 2025 without the consent of a council majority, violating KRS 61.820.
— Weddle refused or delayed publishing duly enacted ordinances in violation of KRS 83A.060.
— Weddle refused to recognize valid appointments to the city’s Ethics Commission, misinterpreted “days” in city code to delay appointments, and attempted to fill vacancies despite lacking authority.
— Weddle filed ethics charges against council members Justin Young, Kelly Greene, Anthony Ortega and Judd Weaver despite knowing the Ethics Board lacked jurisdiction.
— Weddle signed a $5 million mortgage with Cumberland Valley National Bank for city property without council approval, in violation of budget law and Kentucky statutes.
— Weddle impeded or attempted to impede the investigation into charges against him, including ruling improperly on how many votes were needed to advance charges, despite Kentucky Supreme Court precedent.
In regard to the Housing Authority, council members voted to disapprove of Weddle’s appointments (see related article).
In other action, council members approved the purchase of a rescue truck for the Laurel County Rescue Squad, with the motion made by Weaver and seconded by Young. The council also voted to unsuspend Ordinance 2022-13, reinstating the city’s pay and classification plan. The motion was made by Greene and seconded by Weaver, passing 5-0 amid the absence of Stacy Benge, who had submitted his resignation.
After filing an open records request, The Sentinel-Echo received a copy of Benge’s resignation letter on Tuesday, which reads as follows:
“This letter is to serve as my official resignation from the London City Council effective August 28th, 2025.
I made the decision to run for this office in January 2022 with the best of intensions and just wanting to serve and be a part. Since that time I have completely given all of myself to being the best Councilman possible and doing what my neighbors and citizens ask of me. This is affecting my family and my health. I don’t garden anymore, golf anymore or even go for a walk. I can’t remember the last time I had a nice happy day.
I have given this a lot of thought and I cannot see a good pathway forward at this time.”
The Friday meeting adjourned following the acceptance of the resignation of Benge, after a motion by Jim Baker and a second by Greene.