NEWBURYPORT — A monthlong saga of City Council drama was put to bed Monday night when councilors voted not to censure Ward 2 City Councilor Jennie Donahue after she offered apologies to fellow councilors Sharif Zeid and Mark Wright.
The idea of censuring Donahue had come as a result of salty comments she directed at Zeid and Wright during a June 5 debate on a $9,000 proposal to purchase two three-wheeled, handicapped-accessible tandem bicycles.
The bikes, eventually approved at the June 23 meeting, are intended to support Newburyport Livable Streets’ new bike share program. The program is being paid for through a combination of federal, nonprofit and foundation commitments.
Zeid argued at the time that the $9,000 was inappropriate as it was coming from what he believed to be public funds, which the City Council had prohibited the use of when establishing the bike share program.
This led to heated debate as Donahue called out Zeid and Wright before ultimately storming out.
Speaking to The Daily News on Tuesday, Donahue said she apologized to Zeid and Wright specifically, as well as residents, for “the disruption and distraction from our regularly scheduled duties.”
“It was a very bad reaction to getting caught up in the tone of the debate, and my reaction was inappropriate,” Donahue said.
Wright said he believed that after Monday’s meeting the ordeal was behind them.
“She was kind enough to offer apologies to both Councilor Zeid and myself in the discussion around receiving and filing. We both appreciated the apologies,” Wright said.
Zeid echoed similar thoughts, saying he was grateful to have fences mended.
“I appreciated that she was willing to stand up on the floor and say the apology words. I’m happy to accept them, and I do not want to revisit it again. I was excited to be able to close that chapter and move on to the next thing,” Zeid said.
Donahue said she felt like a big weight had been lifted after offering her mea culpa.
“I certainly did not want to make history as being the first city councilor to ever be censured because that’s what it would’ve been,” Donahue said.
Donahue announced earlier in the month she will not run for reelection this year and said she is happy not to have her final year on the council include a censure.
“It would’ve been very sour to have it go that way,” Donahue said.
The candidates who have taken out nomination papers for Donahue’s seat so far are Stephanie Niketic, Shawn Fenn and Dillon Thompson.
The deadline to pull papers is Friday.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.