Lansford Borough Council on Tuesday dealt with questions regarding the status of legal action to remove a councilman who has been serving a state prison sentence since November.

Council asked Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek to file a quo warranto complaint to remove its vice president, Jay Doyle, back in January.

Doyle pleaded guilty to felony aggravated assault for a 2023 assault that hospitalized a man for five weeks, and a judge in October sentenced him to 42 to 84 months in state prison.

He is currently lodged in the State Correctional Facility in Waymart, Wayne County.

Greek filed the action on Jan. 15, and has asked the court multiple times to reissue the complaint, keeping the matter active. The last reissue was April 2, according to court records

Resident Rose Mary Cannon was the first to ask about the status of Doyle’s seat, as council has been operating one member down since November.

Council President Bruce Markovich said that borough Solicitor Bob Yurchak spoke to the district attorney and was told that the judge is aware of the matter.

Cannon called the length of time that has passed ridiculous, saying the point will soon be moot, as Doyle’s term ends Dec. 31.

Councilman Joseph Butrie said council was told that the judge doesn’t like to make the choice to remove a councilman, preferring that the member resigns.

Resident Joseph Genits, who is running for council, pointed out that Doyle hasn’t been removed, but his nameplate is no longer on the council table.

“Do you think we should put his name back up here?” Markovich asked Genits, who again said his name isn’t up there.

Councilwoman Gwyneth Collevechio said that Doyle still receives all of the information that council does, as his name remains on an email list. She noted that she doesn’t know if he receives or sees them given his imprisonment.

Doyle’s name also remains on council’s agendas, his name called during roll call for attendance, and is noted as absent by the borough secretary.

“This council should ask him to resign, because he’s not going to be able to come back to make meetings,” Genits said. “It’s unfair to the public.”

He asked council to write to the district attorney and judge asking for expediency and removal of Doyle from council, which would allow council to move forward with filling the seat.

Genits asked if there was a reason council didn’t want that position filled, or a reason why council doesn’t force the issue.

Markovich told Genits that he should go down to the courthouse, tell him who he is and asked the district attorney or the judge to make a decision.

“I am not going to send a letter to the judge and tell the judge what to do,” Markovich said. “That is ridiculous. The judge is aware of what he has to do. He has the paperwork. He has everything in front of him.”

Genits asked how Markovich knew that, and Markovich again explained that the borough solicitor has spoken to the district attorney.

If Doyle refuses to resign, or doesn’t have the courage to do so, Genits said, it’s the duty of council to act to fill that position and follow up on the status of requested legal action.

“You started the procedure. Are you not interested in following through?” he asked council members.

Genits suggested that council ask the people who are running for council to submit applications for the seat, and see who is really interested, because few of those on the May ballot come to meetings.

Genits also asked council members to formally act next week at the regular council meeting on requesting an update on the removal of Doyle from council.

“All I know is he is never coming back to be a council person during his term,” he said.

Markovich said that he could call the solicitor this week for an update, and could also ask him to explain what is happening during council’s meeting Wednesday night.