by Kate Shunney
Online comments from a newly-elected but not sworn in member of the Town of Bath council created a stir following the June 10 municipal election, carrying over a week later into the Bath council meeting of June 17.
Reba Dalson, one of three new members to be elected to the council on June 10, reportedly reposted the Town of Bath’s election Certificate of Result on the night of the election. A Facebook page called “Reba for Town Council” shared a photo of the results with the comment, “We won! Three new no nonsense conservatives de seated two lunatic liberals! Thank you!”
The post was later deleted, but had been captured by Scott Collinash and others. Collinash has served on Bath town committees and attended council meetings for several years. 
In the Bath election, the top five vote-getters for council seats were Ryan Kessel (59 votes), Elizabeth Skinner (55 votes), Mary Lynn Hickey (47 votes), Dalson (43 votes) and Rick Weber (41 votes). Incumbents Rebecca MacLeod and David O’Connell were not re-elected to their seats.
On Tuesday, June 17, Collinash asked to speak at the council meeting, partially reading a statement and sometimes speaking without notes.
He recounted Dalson’s statement, which he called “disrespectful” and denounced as “name-calling and inflammatory rhetoric.”
“My question is, do you share that partisan approach?” Collinash asked the council.
He noted the municipal elections are non-partisan, meaning candidates don’t declare an affiliation with a political party to run or serve.
Collinash said if the council’s work is now partisan, he would step down as the chair of the town’s 2026 Town of Bath celebration committee.
He also asked if council members had campaigned with Dalson and shared her views.
Town Recorder Susan Webster said she did not campaign with Dalson and didn’t know her until she saw her name on the ballot.
Council woman Elizabeth Skinner said she did campaign with Ryan Kessel.
“I didn’t know much about them,” Skinner said. “Even though it’s a nonpartisan council, it doesn’t erase the fact that I attend the Republican club and they do, too.”
Skinner said she had conversations with Dalson about the role of the council as the “managers” of the town.
Skinner said she was unaware of Dalson’s online comments until Dalson called Skinner to apologize to her for her statements.
Councilwoman Skinner said she reprimanded Dalson for the statements, but is willing to work with anyone for the town’s benefit.
Collinash asked the council to make a motion to remove Dalson from the council for conduct unbecoming of a council member.
Webster said the council doesn’t have the power to do that, and that move would disenfranchise town residents who voted for Dalson.
“She hasn’t even taken office yet,” she said.
Collinash said the statements were insulting to council members who have worked years for the betterment of the town, its facilities and its economy.
Outgoing councilman David O’Connell told Collinash he has done “a wonderful job” working with town projects.
“The only way the world has been improved is by keeping your nose to the grindstone,” said O’Connell. “I would encourage you to stay on the job,” he said to Collinash.
“Reba is a human being and may have made a mistake,” O’Connell said.
Town volunteer Kate Lehman said in the past, the Bath council has “operated in a non-partisan way” and she is fearful of what would happen if that changes.
“If people are put down for their beliefs, how can anyone come before the council and ask for things they need if they feel they’re going to be called names?” Lehman asked.
Lehman referenced some comment exchanges on Facebook that included threats of violence against people of different beliefs.
“This is what happens when people demonize and dehumanize people who hold different views,” she said.
She urged the Bath council to take clear and public action to reject a partisan appearance.
Councilwoman Mary Lynn Hickey asked if the town council has a code of conduct for council members.
Webster said new council members receive some training about Open Meetings laws and state laws, with some discussion about how elected officials are to act.
Newly-elected Bath mayor Greg Schene said, “What Ms. Dalson posted is beyond belief and it’s shocking, but doesn’t reflect the values of anyone sitting here.”
Incoming councilman Rick Weber, who served on the council previously for a decade, said he was unaware of the statements until his wife showed him.
“I was insulted, flabbergasted,” he said,
“The way it reads, it represents what all of us believe and that isn’t the case,” Weber said.
He said he doesn’t take a fixed political stance, and works with other council members over each issue as they arise.
Webster said she and the council don’t have any control over what other people say or how they conduct themselves.
Schene said he hopes for a public statement of apology once Dalson takes office after a June 30 swearing in.
“She set this council back three years of hard work and building bridges,” he said.
Council discusses grants, work
In other town business, council discussed opportunities for Streetscapes grants, including a lighting plan for seven street lanterns along Mercer and Independence Streets, and construction of Phase 6 of the Streetscapes plan. Both grants would require a town match.
Councilwoman Hickey reported the council submitted a letter of interest for a $1 million grant for the Berkeley Springs Water Works upgrade and another for GIS mapping for the water department. That would require a town grant match, but Bath could be eligible for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation 5% initiative grant that could provide match funding.
Hickey credited Town Clerk Sharron Corrick for her assistance and expertise in closing out two other town grants recently.
Councilwoman Skinner reported that a Civil War trail organization is planning soon to install a historical sign near the grave of a Civil War general in Greenway Cemetery. She said it’s an important project to “restore an interest in the history of the cemetery” and the families buried there.
Kate Lehman reported that eight dead trees were removed from the cemetery and 40 more were trimmed recently. Another downed tree in the Old English Cemetery will also be looked at for cleanup.
Councilwoman MacLeod reported that she had given another tour of the town’s “green infrastructure” features that help manage downtown water runoff through planters, rain gardens and other systems.
“There’s a lot of interest in how it works and how we funded it,” she said.
Before closing the meeting, Schene took a moment to thank MacLeod and O’Connell for their “tremendous work” on key town projects, from the Water Works to stormwater management. He said the Town of Bath thrives because of such “high level of volunteerism.”
The Town of Bath council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Bath Town Hall starting at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are also live streamed on Facebook.
