OMAHA- On Tuesday, the Omaha City Council voted 6-0 to oust Vinny Palermo from his seat and begin the process of appointing a replacement. Palermo has been in jail awaiting trial since his April 21st arrest on suspicion of federal felony offenses. For over three months, South Omaha's District 4 has been effectively without representation in the Council.

To remove Palermo, the Council cited a City Charter provision and passed a resolution ousting the former councilman because he had three consecutive months of unexcused absences from council meetings. The section cited, 2.05, says a council member "shall be deemed to have forfeited office upon...being absent from regular Council meetings for three consecutive calendar months without being excused by the Council."

"Some would have liked to have seen a vote to vacate the seat sooner than that," said City Council President Pete Festersen, "But I want everyone to understand that we're obligated to follow the City Charter in these matters and state laws regarding these matters." The process of selecting a new Council member to represent District 4 will now begin. The Council will appoint a person after a public process that the council spelled out Tuesday, following the vote to remove Palermo.

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