Donna Schneider defended the mayor and took parting shots at council as she stepped down.
A Lopatcong Township councilwoman stepped down this week, taking parting shots at the rest of council while encouraging support for the township's embattled mayor.
"How about council majority, instead of trying to destroy the mayor, support his efforts for change the vast majority of residents voted for," Donna Schneider wrote in a prepared statement read at Wednesday's meeting.
"You hold the good residents of this town in utter contempt by going against their wishes and keeping the machine running."
Schneider, a Republican, was elected in 2013. Her immediate resignation comes six months before the end of her term.
Mayor Tom McKay, who has been facing a recall effort that appears to be nearing an end, said on Friday that he is sad Schneider -- a frequent supporter on council -- was leaving.
"She's one of the few people that entered into government for the right reasons. ... She did a lot of good for the town," he said.
Council President Joseph Pryor said he was surprised at Schneider's announcement.
"I didn't know she was going to resign," Pryor said. "I felt that I'd always dealt with her professionally and I'm disappointed she felt she had to resign in the manner she did."
Schneider's statement, provided to lehighvalleylive.com, accuses current and former elected officials of acting against McKay and residents.
She criticized an investigation and eventual censure of McKay on a remark taken "out of context" -- the mayor allegedly told an investigator that the township clerk was a "man-hater." Schneider said council exhibited a double standard by not censuring Councilman Lou Belcaro when he said at a meeting that he "doesn't get his rocks off censuring the mayor."
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Schneider and McKay are both defendants in a pending lawsuit from Clerk/Administrator Beth Dilts alleging harassment.
In her resignation, Schneider also said the council should allow McKay to hire his chosen professionals, such the township attorney position, to investigate "conspiracy theories." McKay recently sued the council when his hirings were blocked, though the court sided against him.
At the end of her statement, Schneider thanked residents for their support and encouraged a change on the council.
"I have put my life on hold to help the residents and bring about change and transparency," she said, "but change will never be made unless you vote the old regime out next election."
What happens next?
The township Republican committee has 15 days to nominate three people to take Schneider's council seat. The council then has another 15 days to select or reject the nominees.
If selected, an interim councilperson will serve until the day after the November general election. If no one is selected and the committee doesn't offer any new nominees, the seat will remain vacant until that time.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.