CLAREMONT — In identical 5-3 votes Wednesday, the City Council removed Jonathan Stone from two committee appointments based on a recently released report alleging he threatened to murder and rape fellow officers and their family members while working the city’s police department 18 years ago.

Residents who filled the council chambers applauded following Wednesday’s second vote.

Assistant Mayor Deb Matteau was the most vocal of the councilors who voted to rescind Stone’s appointments to the Claremont Development Authority and Policy Committee.

Matteau said she read the complete report on Stone’s disciplinary record and even though Stone was a “friend” who helped her win reelection last November, she could not support allowing him to continue to serve Claremont in a public capacity.

“I was horrified,” Matteau said.

The report detailed accounts from fellow officers who said Stone threatened a mass shooting at the police station and to murder the chief at the time, and assault and murder his wife and young children.

“I love Claremont,” she said. “This is not good for us.”

Matteau, Mayor Dale Girard and councilors Nick Koloski, Joel Tremblay and Jonathan Hayden voted in favor of removing Stone from council-appointed positions. Councilors Andrew O’Hearne, William Limoges and Wayne Hemingway voted to allow Stone to continue to serve.

O’Hearne, a former police officer who is Stone’s cousin, was Stone’s union representative when he reached a separation agreement with the city that included sealing the report of his fellow officers’ allegations.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, an attendee demanded O’Hearne recuse himself from the votes on Stone’s appointments, but he did not.

Stone was elected to the City Council in 2017 and served three, two-year terms before being narrowly defeated last November. He is currently serving his second term as a Republican state representative in the New Hampshire House.

Freelance reporter Damien Fisher, who worked for the Eagle Times in Claremont at the time Stone left the department, the New Hampshire Union Leader and ACLU went to court to have Stone’s disciplinary record released to the public.

On Wednesday, O’Hearne said the council should get a legal opinion to be sure it is not violating Stone’s due process rights by not holding a hearing and making him aware that the appointments would be discussed.

Tremblay had made the motion to add Stone to the agenda after the meeting started.

O’Hearne compared the circumstance to the decision by the council last year to remove James Contois from his seat. Contois sued and the council was forced to reinstate him.

Girard, the mayor, said he too was concerned about whether the council was getting itself in another costly legal fight but ultimately cast a vote to remove Stone.

Koloski countered that the comparison to Contois is not valid because Contois was elected and Stone appointed.

“I don’t think this is the same,” Koloski said. “We make those appointments, we rescind those appointments.”

O’Hearne and Limoges said that if Stone sued, it would end up costing the city more in legal fees.

The threat of a suit was not a concern to Matteau, she said.

“We can’t be worried about being sued,” said Matteau, who declined to condition her motion on a legal opinion being obtained. “I heard he is talking to his attorney. I don’t care. If we get sued, we get sued. We need to do the right thing and remove him from city boards.”

Before the council discussion and vote, several residents said they were angry with the council for not addressing the issue two weeks ago when resident and small business owner Chiara Tosi-Nelson read a statement outlining Stone’s conduct and calling for him to be removed from the CDA and Policy Committee. They said the situation has embarrassed the city well beyond it limits.

An internet search for Claremont brings up news of a former police officer who threatened to rape and kill children and then do a mass shooting, said resident Trish Killay.

“If you don’t do anything, you are making us look horrible,” Killay said. “If you are not going to take a stand then get out of the way. Just do the right thing.”

Candace Crawford, a Claremont resident and School Board member, said it shows “terrible disregard for the city to allow him (Stone) to continue in these positions.

“I hear people in and out of town ask why we can’t do something,” Crawford said.

Tosi-Nelson noted that details of Stone’s alleged conduct comes from official police documents and sworn testimonies from other officers, including the current Sullivan County sheriff.

“These are facts,” Tosi-Nelson said.

Stone’s attorney, Peter Decato, said Thursday afternoon he is “talking” with his client about the city council votes but did not say what their next step might be.

“There was no due process. No indication that the council would consider his removal last night,” Decato said. “They decided not to give him due process.”

Attempts to reach Stone on Thursday were unsuccessful.

Decato previously told the Valley News that statements made by other officers were never proved or adjudicated and that Stone was not fired but resigned in negotiated settlement with the city.

“The advantage to the City of Claremont is that they didn’t have to prove what is written in these records,” Decato said.

On Wednesday, Tosi-Nelson agreed with those who said Stone has brought shame to Claremont and should not be allowed to continue representing the city.

“Jon Stone has single-handedly embarrassed this city, this community and this administration on a national stage with his shameful conduct, unbecoming anyone with any shred of decency, let alone any official, elected or appointed,” she said

Others said Stone’s failure to publicly address the reports or apologize bothered them.

“I have not seen any evidence there has been any contrition, any apology to all of the people he threatened,” said Tom Wansleben. “So I agree, he needs to be removed from any position representing the city.”

In her remarks, Matteau said it did not matter to her that Stone’s conduct happened 18 years ago. She said the reason no one was made aware of the report was because the city suppressed it, then Stone spent years fighting its release in court before losing at the state Supreme Court earlier this year.

“The argument (that) it happened 18 years ago holds no water for me,” Matteau said. “Jon Stone and the union suppressed this information from the community and he has also not expressed any remorse.

“I’m a mom,” she said, and “threatening someone’s children is something you don’t do.

“He doesn’t belong on a public board.”

Meanwhile, there also are efforts to strip Stone of a committee assignment in Concord.

State Rep. Hope Damon, D-Croydon, whose House district includes Claremont, read a statement signed by Sullivan County Democratic state representatives.

“Any threat to harm or endanger law enforcement officers and their families should unequivocally disqualify any individual from serving on the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee,” Damon said. “Regrettably, House Speaker (Sherman) Packard has demonstrated an unwillingness to remove Rep. Stone from the committee. Failing to remove Stone is a disservice to New Hampshire’s Law Enforcement community and the people of Claremont.”

She told the council that this issue is not about partisan politics.

“Regardless of party or perspective on issues, Mr. Stone is not an appropriate person to serve in elected office,” Damon said.

Some Sullivan County Republicans have come to Stone’s defense.

State Rep. Walt Stapleton, R-Claremont, said in an email to several residents that while the report contains “very troubling and disturbing outbursts,” they happened 18 years ago and Stone has served his community in business, on boards and committee, the City Council and New Hampshire House.

“In spite of his faults and faux pas, he is a veteran public servant who knows the law and the street very well, and brings valuable experience and insights to that works,” Stapleton wrote, alleging some newspaper articles have “political overtones” and that “hasty judgments and emotional reactions are counterproductive to justice.”

Stapleton and others noted that Stone was never arrested or charged with any crime.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.