The Lancaster City Council held a meeting Monday night to hear the public's view on the job Mayor Brenda Powers is doing.

Earlier this month, the council asked for Mayor Powers resignation based on allegations of misusing city resources like labor and vehicles, promoting an atmosphere of intimidation, and showing a lack of understanding of the Lancaster Code of Ethics.

The reactions voiced in the nearly packed courtroom, were split.

"I encourage her, though she loves this city, to gracefully step down," said Barbara Edwards, a Lancaster resident, from the podium.

"Anybody that can do it, let them have it," encouraged one woman, who said the mayor shouldn't take the criticism and should just walk away.

"She's a great lady, and I support her 100%," countered Gale Eden, who intends to run for City Council at the next election.

The beliefs expressed divided friends and even husbands and wives, as the former mayor of Lancaster and his wife spoke out.

"You find a common ground and you work together on that, we'll work forward and move the city forward," said Don Rinthen, former Lancaster mayor, who advised the entire city government needs to work it out.

"I think for the city, and I've been a resident for a long time, that I would ask you to resign," countered Rinthen's wife, in her statement to Mayor Powers and the council.

While not everyone was against Mayor Powers, some instead voiced a displeasure with the entire city government.

"I'm not saying she's perfect, but I'm not saying either one of ya'll are perfect," pointed out one man in his statement.

"I think she's done a pretty good job. I don't think she's been perfect, but I don't believe any one of ya'll have done perfect," added another man.

"I want to see them all resign, to be honest," said James Johnson, who does believe that Mayor Powers will and should leave office.

While the mayor did not address the public directly, she did listen to the comments given. Mayor Powers expressed after the initial request for her resignation that she did not intend to leave office.

After hearing the public's viewpoints, the council went into a closed-door session to discuss their next move. No action will be taken until the next meeting is held.