Milton mayor faces accusation he used profanity-laced insults

MILTON — Local Milton resident Albert Brewton spoke Thursday at a regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting, reading a letter which he had given to each of the council members. In the letter he says Mayor Wesley Meiss used profanity after he said he was disappointed in Meiss for casting the deciding vote to terminate former city manager, Brian Watkins.

Brewton also said it has been a week with no apology from the mayor. He said he feels Meiss owes it to him and the city.

"I have serious concerns for the city of Milton under the leadership of Mayor Wesley Meiss,” Brewton said in the close of his letter.   

Brewton had support for his speech from friends and family from the community who applauded him.

Councilwoman Sharon Holley apologized to Brewton for the incident. 

Councilwoman Mary Ellen Johnson first praised Meiss’s character.

“Mr. Mayor, you are a leader among leaders in the political arena," Johnson said. "You are a leader among leaders in the educational arena.”  

Johsnon said that regardless of whether the allegations were true or not, that since the situation happened in a public setting, Meiss should handle it in a public fashion. 

“The truth will set you free,” she said. The mayor had previously stated that he would address the situation privately with Brewton.  

Meiss neither confirmed nor denied the allegations that he used profanity.

“There are two sides to every story,” he said.

Meiss did apologize if any remarks he did made offended Brewton. 

“The conversation that I had with Mr. Brewton," he said, "was a private conversation that I had with him in the parking lot after I was accosted by Mr. Brewton.”

Johnson asked Brewton to apologize for his part in the altercation.

Brewton asked, “What do I need to apologize for?” 

Answering Brewton, Meiss said Brewton stopped him in his truck and "verbally accosted" him.

Johnson said Meiss had apologized and that it showed leadership.  

Meiss said, in light of the situation, security for council needs to be revisited to help avoid any further issues that may arise. 

Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Meiss asked Brewton to apologize. Johnson first asked Brewton to apologize then Meiss said for stopping him after the meeting in his truck and verbally accosting him.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton mayor faces accusation he used profanity-laced insults