A photo that replaced the mayor's son with another official's face on a pregnant woman's body seemed to be the tipping point. Watch video
An ongoing spat between Phillipsburg's mayor and an often-controversial resident over social media posts has spilled into public meetings and the courts.
The gadfly, Blaine Fehley, has filed criminal complaints against Mayor Stephen Ellis accusing the mayor of threats, assault and harassment after a confrontation during a town meeting last week -- a recording of which was posted on Fehley's YouTube channel (and can be seen above).
Fehley claims the mayor poked him in the chest before the video started. In the recording, Ellis tells Fehley he is "sick" for posting a photo involving the mayor's 9-year-old son on Facebook. "We'll see where this goes," the mayor says as he walks away.
Blaine Fehley, left, and Phillipsburg Mayor Steve Ellis (lehighvalleylive.com file photos) Ellis on Tuesday denied touching Fehley, saying that he only wants Fehley "to keep my family out of it."
The photo in question -- one apparently taken without their knowledge while the mayor, wearing a hoodie that says "Mayor Ellis," was shopping with his son -- was snapped by someone else, Fehley said. He posted an altered version to his personal Facebook page in which the boy was removed and replaced by a pregnant woman with Council President Todd Tersigni's face.
A March 27, 2017, post on Blaine Fehley's Facebook page shows a photo of Mayor Stephen Ellis shopping. The mayor's son has been removed and replaced by a pregnant woman with the face of Town Council President Todd Tersigni. (Facebook) Fehley -- a controversial figure who ran a blog and recorded video of town meetings -- has focused his attention on the mayor with crude and crass posts.
Another video on Fehley's YouTube channel, called "Mayor A$$Hole," puts the April 4 confrontation to a famous tune by comedian Dennis Leary. And on Facebook last month, a photo from Ellis' election night victory was altered to make the mayor resemble black entertainer Flavor Flav.
A March 9, 2017, post on Blaine Fehley's Facebook page altered a photo from Mayor Stephen Ellis' election night victory to make him resemble Flava Flav. (Facebook) "I was poking fun at him," Fehley said of the posts. "Just like they do with Donald Trump," he later added. "I'm not harassing him or anything."
The mayor called Fehley's actions -- from the posts to the court filings -- "a distraction."
"We're trying to restart a town, and what is he doing?" Ellis said. "This is insane."
Accusations
Fehley filed complaints two days after the April 4 fight. He claims the mayor's alleged poke constituted assault, that Ellis calling him "sick" was harassment and the "see where this goes" comment was a death threat.
"I never touched anyone. Never would," the mayor said this week. "Thirty-five years in public service, I know better than that."
Fehley's complaints were filed in Alpha municipal court, which is handling Phillipsburg's court duties as mold in town hall is addressed.
In his affidavit, Fehley cites texts between the mayor and a third party in which Ellis says he will file a civil suit against Fehley for cyber bullying. Fehley also posted the texts on Facebook.
On March 27, 2017, Blain Fehley posted on his Facebook page a screenshot of alleged text messages between Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis and a third party in which the mayor says he will sue Fehley for cyber bullying. (Facebook) Court staff in Alpha said the complaints have been forwarded to Clinton municipal court to avoid any conflicts of interest. A hearing to determine probable cause must be held to determine what, if any, criminal charges are warranted.
Prior controversies
Asked why he is "poking fun" at the mayor with photos and posts, Fehley said that -- among other reasons -- a meeting he requested with the mayor over local issues never materialized.
"So it's on," he said.
Fehley -- who ran a failed campaign for town council in 2013 -- has generated controversy before and is often at odds with Phillipsburg officials. After recording a town meeting in 2011, council asked him why he turned his video camera to the ceiling when then-Mayor Harry Wyant Jr. presented a proclamation to Phillipsburg High School Key Club members.
After first saying he had been daydreaming, Fehley claimed another local blog had accused him of recording a meeting in "a perverted manner" by focusing on a female stenographer. "I put the camera on many of your guys' faces. Does that make me a homo?" he told the town council in public remarks for which he later apologized.
The following year, Fehley claimed that code violations issued for his property were actually retaliation after a dispute with Wyant over campaign signs.
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This also is not the first time he's pursued harassment charges against a town official. In 2011, Fehley claimed the council president at the time, Randy Piazza, swore at him about removing tree trunks from a local cemetery.
Fehley said controversy follows him because "I speak the truth and they don't like it."
"When you're a public official," Fehley said of Ellis, "you better get ready to take some criticism and grow some thick skin. He just can't take it."
The mayor, however, said Fehley's actions go well beyond legitimate criticism and help nothing.
"He's done this to every mayor," Ellis said. "Who knows what's going on in his brain?"
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.