2 years, 3 months ago Scott Hardy/KHQA
3rd Ward Alderman Stephan Franke is accused of grabbing City Manager Lisa Peck, City Clerk Angelica Zerbonia
The Hannibal City Council has agreed to serve two articles of impeachment against a fellow alderman.
The vote to serve the articles of impeachment happened Tuesday night. Two city employees and a former city employee have accused 3rd Ward alderman Stephen Franke of inappropriate conduct. Franke is accused of grabbing City Manager Lisa Peck's arm so tightly during a May meeting that it caused Peck pain. Franke's also accused of doing the same thing to City Clerk Angelica Zerbonia in December. An impeachment hearing is now set for March 1st, although that will likely be delayed, because two alderman won't be able to attend. A two-thirds majority vote is needed to oust Franke. If the council votes to impeach Franke, he would be removed from office, and a special election will be held to fill his seat. A Marion County municipal judge will lead the hearings. A special prosecutor also will be appointed to prosecute the case. That's because Hannibal city legal counsel James Lemon represents Franke through his law firm.
Franke did not attend the meeting due to the impeachment vote.
