DUBOIS, Pa. — DuBois City Council faced public backlash Wednesday night during its first meeting since former City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio entered a guilty plea in his federal corruption case.
Shawn Lesky, a Grove City resident who operates the DuBois Live website, addressed the board during public comment to criticize council members over their past support of Suplizio. Lesky called directly for the immediate resignation of Mayor Barry Abbott, suggesting that council members appoint a new mayor if Abbott refused to step down.
Council members and City Manager Joe Fleming refrained from commenting on the Suplizio case, citing advice from City Solicitor Jason Sabol to withhold public statements until sentencing is finalized.
Before Lesky spoke, questions arose regarding his eligibility to speak under the city’s public comment policy. In April, council passed a resolution restricting public comment strictly to city residents and taxpayers. Lesky informed council that he pays taxes on two properties and owns an LLC in DuBois, qualifying him as a taxpayer.
“Great, he provides it and he can speak,” Sabol stated via Microsoft Teams.
Following the meeting, Abbott left the council chambers to intercept Lesky before he exited the building. Abbott and Councilman Bill Beers then escorted Lesky into private City Hall offices to review documentation verifying his property ownership.
During the meeting, Councilmen Mark Sullivan and Richard Whitaker voiced support for Abbott, while Councilwoman Shirley Dahrouge reiterated that the board was acting under legal advice not to comment. Abbott echoed Dahrouge’s statement, adding that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Beers emphasized that the plea agreement is not finalized until formal sentencing occurs.
”The best thing we can do as a community is to write letters to the judge. It isn’t done until Sept. 10,” Beers said.
Drawing a comparison to high-profile criminal plea deals, Beers stated that “…like the mass murderer out in Utah…” the plea agreement is not set in stone. He acknowledged the harm felt across the city, noting that community members have a larger voice than the council alone and urged residents to submit input directly to the presiding judge.
“I’m sure Shawn Lesky can help you get the address,” Beers said.
