Frustration in Rittman after closed-door special meeting ends with no answers

RITTMAN, Ohio — On Friday night, a special meeting was called. The only item of new business listed was “to consider the hiring, firing or discipline of a public employee or official.”

After a closed session, council reconvened and immediately adjourned with no action taken. City leaders did not comment after coming out of the closed-door session.

Resident reaction

Resident Judith Whims said to the council members from her seat after it was adjourned: “Are you kidding me? You had us standing here waiting all this time for you to come in and adjourn the meeting. What kind of farce is this? What are you doing to the people of Rittman?”

“For them to pull that kind of crap and make us look bad again, I don’t believe what’s going on here, I really don’t,” Whims said.

19 News asked if she knew what the meeting was for. Whims said: “No, they said it was a special meeting.”

Other residents in attendance said meetings are rarely called on a Friday night, calling it unusual.

Whims added, “Let’s have everything out on the table. Don’t hide anything. If there’s something that we need to know, tell us. We’re big people. We’re adults. We can handle stuff. But this is ridiculous what they did to the people tonight. I’m very disappointed in them.”

Police chief put on leave

This month, Rittman City Manager Bobbie Beshara confirmed that Police Chief Robert Shows is on paid administrative leave and will remain on leave until Nov. 22, when his contract is terminated.

Beshara said Shows was placed on leave in August. City council documents show he signed a one-year contract in January of this year. The city has not said what prompted the leave.

Chief’s background

Shows was sworn in as chief in January 2021, according to the department’s own Facebook post. He served more than three decades with the Rittman Police Department.

19 News reached out to the city about why Shows was placed on leave and is still waiting to hear back.