Franklin Faces Impeachment

Editors Note: This article went to press Monday, Feb. 4. Randall Franklin resigned Feb. 5.The Stylus will have more coeverage of BSG coming online this week and in-print on Feb. 13.

By Amanda Seef
NEWS EDITOR

When new business was called to order at Brockport Student Government’s Board of Directors meeting, Feb. 1, the impeachment of BSG Vice President Randall Franklin was motioned to be added to the agenda for discussion.

Cultural Committee representative, Rebecca Newbury, motioned to add the impeachment to the agenda within the first few minutes of business. After passing out paperwork describing the infractions against Franklin, On-Campus Representative Will Mitchell made a friendly amendment to reconvene in executive session for the topic. Executive session allows board members to discuss an issue with invited guests, but it is suggested a decision is not made, in order for constituents to know how their representative votes.

“Regardless of how people feel about it, we should definitely look it over today,” Service Council Representative Ryan McPherson said during the meeting. “Some of these are serious charges.”

The board voted to begin the impeachment proceedings against Franklin. Student court will convene within 10 days from the day of the meeting to discuss the allegations against Franklin.

Any officer of BSG is open to impeachment, brought about by another member, if found guilty of malfeasance, violation of the constitution or bylaws, or for conviction of a felony while in, or waiting to take, office. The student court will make the decision if Franklin is guilty or innocent. If the defendant is found guilty, he/she will be immediately dismissed from office and will forfeit all rights and privileges. A vote of impeachment will quell the chances of running for office in the future, as well as stripping the member of BSG membership.

The infractions that Franklin is accused of include three counts of malfeasance. Malfeasance is the wrong-doing by a public official. The charge is stemming from unpaid fees for conference hotel stays and cell phone overage charges. He was also charged due to missing prizes for the bench press contest, which he was able to locate, with the original receipt, this weekend. A verbal agreement had been set up between Franklin and BSG Treasurer Kyle Amendola, said a source not wishing to be disclosed. However. only written agreements are binding, With the location of the bench press contest prizes, the total judgment against Franklin will total less than $200.

Four other charges were filed against Franklin, including Violation of New York State Public Officers Law, Article 7 Section 104. Franklin moved the BSG Board of Directors meeting without giving 72 hours public notice. Two other cases of malfeasance were also brought against Franklin. Allegedly, Franklin encouraged the Appropriation Committee to allocate funds to the rugby team for travel expenses, even after being urged by Off-Campus Representative, Lindsey Geyer, to not vote for the proposal. Geyer informed Franklin and the board that the action would be in violation of the BSG Constitution.

“This inappropriate behavior by Mr. Franklin projected a negative public image of BSG, and showed irresponsibility of BSG leadership,” Newbury wrote.

“I was elected to serve and represent the students,” Franklin said. “I love BSG and my job as vice president. I believe that this is all a misunderstanding and hope that not only students understand that, but also BSG representatives and personnel.”

Board meetings are run by the Robert’s Rules of Order, a take on the Parliamentary Procedure. The rules suggest that executive sessions and the minutes of the meetings must be read and acted upon only in executive session. However, two options remain for reporting the session. Either minutes can be taken of the meeting, or the action of the meeting must be decided in the public portion of the meeting. Either way, the decisions made in executive session become public. However, neither the minutes nor the official decision were made public.

This is not the first trouble Franklin has seen concerning the BSG Board. During the Fall 2006 semester, Franklin took office as off-campus representative. Franklin resigned after it was discovered the election commission had not realized it was his first semester at Brockport, making him ineligible for that position. Franklin was replaced by Rod Owens.
Franklin is in his second semester in office. He is also currently the President of Democracy Matters. According to BSG online, Franklin’s focus is getting the message out to students about the benefits of participating in BSG programming and working with the organization.

“Hopefully everyone can respect the process,” BSG President Darnell Pierce said. “Student court justices, that I appointed earlier in the year, will review the case in a professional, prudent manner.”

Tom Johnson, BSG Service Council representative in 2006, was put on trial for impeachment during his term. The motion was unanimously denied, but Johnson was forced to go through the motions of an impeachment trial. There were 10 infractions against Johnson, including failure to turn in meeting minutes and using his title as a platform for his personal agenda.

An official of BSG has not faced impeachment since 1976. Additionally, the BSG President and Treasurer in 1973 were investigated for impeachment due to misappropriation of funds, totaling more than $500.

In other news at the Board Meeting:
• Justin Oliver was voted as pro tem, replacing Brett Giehl. The pro tem will assume the responsibilities as a temporary substitute if the original member is taken out of office. Oliver won against Michelle Ford, 6-5.

• Brock-the-Port will be conducting a planning committee to better serve the needs and wants of students for the program.

• The budget acceptance program began Monday, Feb. 4. The budget will be amended and changed for the next two months.

• Jonathon Woods was accepted as the Election Commissioner, unanimously by the BSG Board of Directors.

• Stefanie Guarino was accepted as the Programming Assistant, unanimously by the BSG Board of Directors.

• Katelyn Cowen was accepted as an Office Assistant, unanimously by the BSG Board of Directors.

• IVCF/BASIC was approved for their proposal for money from the contingency fund. To assist with the presentation of a comedy show and concert, $975.44 was transferred to their account.

• Election guidelines were unanimously approved by the board. Petitions for positions became available Monday, Feb. 4. Petitions must be turned in to the BSG office Friday, Feb. 22 by noon. All campaigning may commence, Tuesday, March 25.