A Facebook page started following that meeting, named Recall Mayor Oda, has drawn numerous comments as have other postings of the meeting recording and articles about the meeting. Comments were both for and against the mayor.
A group questioning decision making by Oda is exploring action against her, including formal censure from City Council and, if changes are not made, a recall would be considered, said Troy resident Aimee Shannon.
“Mrs. Oda seems to be pushing her own political agenda, both with her actions and on her Facebook page when clearly, as an elected mayoral official, that is not her role. If she wanted to influence policy, she should have run for a position with the state legislature,” Shannon said Thursday. Among decisions cited were the mayor choosing to move forward with the annual community Christmas tree lighting after the event was canceled by organizers at Troy Main Street due to COVID-19 and discussions with Miami County Public Health.
“As mayor, her role is to provide leadership to all her community, instead of inciting division and anger,” Shannon said.
A recall is not the desired action, Shannon said. “We want Mayor Oda to take full responsibility for all of her actions and to recognize her failures to work within her role,” she said.
The residents want council to approve a formal censure of the mayor citing those concerns, Shannon said. “And we want Mayor Oda to either make a full change and lead as her role intends or to step down. If these things don’t happen, then our group will consider pursuing a recall,” she said.
Oda said she had no comment on any recall talk.
“I will continue to do my job and press forward in supporting and celebrating Troy, its residents and businesses,” Oda said Thursday. “We have an amazing community; it is strong and resilient. We have much to celebrate and be proud of. We are bigger and better than this distraction.”
The sign that included an Ohio logo on it was not driven by any “thought or intent to deceive anyone or misrepresent the Ohio message on masks,” Oda said in the posting.
She said Thursday that the signs were posted at the end of business Dec. 30 and removed the next morning. One was missed, though, and remained in place until Monday, Jan. 4.
“While I agree with the sign’s message, I wanted to make sure people understood that council was not involved, and to apologize for any misunderstanding,” Oda said via email.
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