New Berlin, Wisconsin – At a special meeting Thursday night, the New Berlin Common Council opened a closed‑session discussion on a petition that calls for Mayor Dave Ament’s removal from office. The petition, filed by local residents and advocacy groups, cites a series of anti‑Muslim posts that appeared on the mayor’s personal Facebook page earlier this year.
Petition background and community response
The petition alleges that Mayor Ament’s online remarks created an unsafe environment for the city’s Muslim residents. Janan Najeeb, executive director of the Muslim Women’s Coalition, said, “He is not someone who should be serving as mayor of a community that includes Muslims because they don’t feel safe, and he should do the decent thing and resign.” While Ament issued a public apology for the posts, many community members say the apology does not address the underlying concerns.
Council’s procedural steps
During the meeting, Alderman John Hopkins moved a four‑part resolution. The proposal would direct the council president and the common council to draft formal charges to the mayor, accompany those charges with a letter outlining the removal process, and set a limited‑scope hearing schedule. The motion also calls for the council to consult the petitioner and consider potential litigation.
Council members asked for additional context on the proposed charges but indicated they could not comment further at this time. They promised that more details will become public during hearings scheduled for Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.
No immediate decision
The meeting lasted less than an hour, and no final decision on the mayor’s removal was announced. Council members emphasized that the process will continue in the upcoming hearings, and they urged residents to stay informed.
Mayor’s response
FOX6 reached out to Mayor Ament for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
What’s next for New Berlin
Residents and advocacy groups say they will continue to monitor the council’s actions closely. The petition’s supporters hope the council’s formal charges and subsequent hearings will lead to a resolution that restores confidence among all members of the community.
Portions of this article were formatted using AI; an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone before publishing.
Original reporting: FOX6 WITI – local news — read the source article.
