A regularly scheduled Weirton City Council meeting took a volatile turn when City Manager Joe Dibartolomeo made allegations against Weirton City Council for what he termed an illegal executive session held in November.     Dibartolomeo said he had turned the matter over to the Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office for investigation.    Council had violated the State’s Sunshine Law, according to Dibartolomeo when it voted to go into executive session after Top of West Virginia Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Board Chair Mike Swartzmiller declined to discuss issues between the CVB and the City of Weirton in a public forum.   With the exception of Council member Mike Adams, City Council walked out of the Chamber during Dibartolomeo’s remarks.

               During his remarks, Dibartolomeo  took aim at Adams who he said violated the City Charter by holding his elective seat on Council while also serving as a Hancock County Assistant Prosecutor, which Dibartolomeo said was an appointive position.

               Adams responded to Dibartolomeo’s comments at a Council at a meeting held Friday.  According to Adams, he is an “at will” employee of the Hancock County Prosecutor’s office rather than holding an appointive position.  He cited West Virginia State Code as permitting one to hold both positions and cited State Supreme Court decisions upholding his position.