An Effingham County Superior Court judge has denied Springfield Mayor Jeff Northway’s motion to dismiss an action brought by four city council members seeking his removal.

Judge William Woodrum filed his response March 31 to Northway’s motion to dismiss, following a Feb. 9 hearing on the matter. In the motion to dismiss, Northway’s attorney, Charles Herman, argued that the state’s Recall Act repealed or otherwise pre-empted Section 45 of the Springfield city charter. Section 45 of the charter deals with the removal of mayor and council members from office.

Five of the six council members voted Nov. 22, 2010, to ask for Northway’s resignation. Under Section 45, any four members of the council may ask for the resignation of the mayor or another council member if they are deemed to be guilty of malpractice in office, willful neglect of duty or gross and willful abuse of the powers entrusted to them.

For the complete story, see Tuesday's edition of the Effingham Herald.