Disagreements over procedure broke the tenuous calm that has marked recent Bellevue Council meetings, ending with council members walking out of Tuesday’s work session as others were chastised for their behavior.

A number of motions -- including a couple to adopt ordinances on their second readings -- were approved in 5-4 votes as issue of voting at work sessions once again became the subject of debate.

Council member Linda Woshner strongly objected to votes being taken at workshop meetings unless the matter was one of urgency. Woshner argued that the public expected votes to be taken at the regular meetings, and had the right to be present and comment if they wanted.

“We’re having two council meetings,” she said.

New director of administrative services (DAS) Doug Sample said he was used to having two voting meetings each month in Crafton, where he formerly was employed. He and council president Kathy Coder agreed that it made more sense to space out the three readings required of ordinances over the regular and workshop meetings, which allowed for the different people who attend those meetings to comment on the proposed legislation, and also speeds up the process of adopting new laws.

Another bone of contention arose when the proposed burn ordinance was brought up for discussion. Safety committee chairman David Gillingham Jr. became irate when council member Jane Braunlich again asked for stiffer regulations on recreational burning. Gillingham complained that no one had come to the safety committee meetings to make recommendations on the proposed ordinance. Braunlich, however, said that her input had been heard at every council meeting at which the ordinance had been discussed since it was first introduced last April.

Council member Mark Helbling supported Braunlich’s right to comment at regular meetings instead of committee meetings.

“All of us can’t attend all meetings,” Helbling said.

Gillingham’s temper once again arose when Woshner questioned him about why the safety committee was asking for proposals from ambulance services.

Gillingham responded that Woshner should read the committee meeting minutes.

“You’re not going to sit here and badger me, lady,” he told Woshner.

The biggest explosion came, however, when Braunlich revealed a complete procedural breakdown when it came to the borough’s 4th of July picnic at Memorial Park. Not only was nearly $1,000 spent without the approval of any committee or council as a whole, Coder admitted to signing the name of a borough employee on a borough credit card purchase.

“I take full responsibility,” Coder said. She stated that Mayor George Doscher had called her three days before the July 4th event, upset because council had never voted to approve the picnic and concerned that the annual event would have to be canceled.

“I thought the show should go on,” Coder said.

Braunlich, however, pointed out that a borough employee had signed agreements for entertainment on June 25, more than three days prior to the event, and that the parks and recreation committee had held a special meeting on July 3 to approve the free pool admission, but had not voted to authorize the expenditures.

Woshner stated that forgery was a criminal offense, and Coder could have put the purchases on her own charge card and then requested reimbursement from the borough.

“It could have been handled better,” Woshner said.

Coder said that she did not have a credit card with a limit that high.

“I, with the purest of intentions, pulled this thing off,” Coder said.

Helbling supported Coder’s actions.

“This is disgusting,” he said of the criticism. “This is pathetic.

“She tried to help out the borough,” Helbling said of Coder, noting that if she had purchased something for herself on the borough’s credit card, “I’d be ticked.”

Council voted 5-4 to ratify the actions taken with regard to the July 4 event. Opposed were Braunlich, Woshner, and Susan and Jim Viscusi. Supporting the motion were Coder, Helbling, Gillingham, Lisa Blaney-Stewart (who chairs the parks committee) and Mark Panichella.

Resident Susan Shaffer chastised council for the arguments.

“You don’t get anything done because you’re all so pathetically involved in your personal feelings,” she said. “It needs to stop.”