ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) -
St. Petersburg City Council member Wengay Newton says the battle over replacing the Pier is getting personal.
Newton says he was thrown out of a meeting Monday to discuss the lawsuit filed against the demolition of the Pier.
He says he was told to leave because he signed the petition to stop the Lens project, and was therefore a part of the lawsuit.
Newton says he is not a part of the lawsuit and should have been allowed inside the meeting.
"What I have discovered is that not only was I not allowed to ask questions during the council meeting, but I was put out of the closed session as it pertains to the governance of this city and the lawsuit, and Vote on the Pier.com and the City of St. Petersburg," Newton said.
Newton was the sole "no" vote last month when the council approved the next round of funding for the proposed Lens to replace the Pier.
St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster denies Newton's allegations that he was kicked out of Monday's meeting.
The next legal session to discuss the Pier lawsuit is January 17th.
