KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Keene Mayor Jay Kahn used a Thursday morning radio interview to explain what residents can expect at tonight’s City Council meeting, where councilors will decide whether to launch a formal disciplinary process against Ward 2 Councilor Bobby Williams.

Speaking on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell, Kahn said he submitted a letter earlier this week that formally triggered the rarely used procedure, which was established in 2013 but has never before been activated. The move follows uproar over Williams’ now-deleted Facebook post about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“Tonight the council will consider whether the process should go forward,” Kahn told listeners. “The city attorney will explain the framework, I will present the complaint, and Councilor Williams will have the opportunity to state his position. Then, it will be up to the council to decide.”

The council must vote by a two-thirds majority to move the process forward. If that threshold is met, a disciplinary committee will be formed to investigate and make recommendations, which could range from no action to removal from office. Kahn noted that the process was intentionally written with some flexibility: “The charter does not predetermine outcomes. It ensures due process while protecting the integrity of the council.”

No public comment will be allowed at tonight’s meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Seating is limited, but residents can watch on Channel 1302, through the city’s YouTube channel, or on a monitor in the lobby.

Williams apologized Wednesday, saying his remarks about Kirk were “unkind and inflammatory,” while also defending his right to free speech and warning that efforts to silence him could have broader implications for democracy. His original post, made Sept. 11, described Kirk as “a piece of [expletive] who promoted gun violence and died by gun violence.”

By Thursday morning, more than 1,000 people had signed an online petition calling for Williams’ resignation, though Kahn emphasized that such petitions do not directly influence council procedure.

“This is about how we as a council respond to actions that may undermine public trust,” Kahn said in closing. “I trust my colleagues will take the matter seriously and act in the best interest of Keene.”