Fountain Hills Councilmember Alan Magazine found himself under fire during the April 7 Town Council meeting when resident Lina Bellenir aired a grievance during the open call to the public.

“It is with a sad and heavy heart I stand before you this evening to bring public an incident that took place nearly one year ago,” Bellenir said.

Bellenir went on to outline her version of incidents that began on June 15 of 2015. She stated that Magazine, having obtained her cell phone number, called her and “willfully and wantonly threatened” herself and her family.

Bellenir claims this was done because she questioned which member of the council “threatened the Extended Hands Food Bank with defunding,” saying she discovered that Magazine was that member.

She further said his “threat left me horrified, shaken and emotionally distressed.”

Bellenir said she filed a formal complaint asking for an apology and for Magazine to “acknowledge his behavior.”

A mediator was brought in on Aug. 27, though Bellenir stated that Magazine did not attend the meeting.

“That refusal forced me to move forward with a formal complaint,” Bellenir continued.

It was at that time that the Town brought in Cecil Patterson, a retired Court of Appeals judge who was currently working as an ethics hearing officer, Bellenir said, adding that this resulted in a memorandum outlining that Magazine did violate four provisions of the Town Code of Ethics.

The meeting between Bellenir and Magazine finally occurred a few weeks prior to the April 7 meeting.

“Sadly, the long-awaited meeting was made into a mockery by Magazine,” Bellinir said.

“…The meeting lasted a mere five minutes, wherein he once again insulted and made me feel threatened.”

This being the open call to the public and the item not being on the agenda, councilmembers are not typically allowed to respond. However, since this was a direct criticism of Councilman Magazine, he was allowed to provide a response.

“Mrs. Bellenir has grossly embellished the situation,” Magazine began.

“Not only embellished, but she has fabricated much of this situation.”

Magazine said that the accusation he had threatened Bellenir’s family was “absurd,” adding that she had been the one shouting during the phone conversation.

“The stuff about the food bank is totally false,” Magazine continued.

“…I voted my full support – full support of $23,400 – for the food bank.”

Magazine stated that he found it interesting that Judge Patterson’s list of facts from the hearing were five quotes from Bellenir.

“What happened, how he was taken in by this, I have no idea,” Magazine said.

“But he used those so-called facts, which were her quotes accusing me of things, as the basis for his findings.”

Magazine said he felt he did nothing improper and that his actions were a result of Bellenir claiming through Facebook that he wanted Extended Hands out of town.

“She never bothered to call me and get any of the facts,” Magazine said.

“She decided to just go on Facebook and defame me…When I did call her…I told her that if she continued with these kinds of posts, which were defamatory, I would sue her for defamation.”

Magazine stated that Bellenir’s response was to question his stance on taxes, to which he responded, “Lina, don’t test me. Have a nice day,” before hanging up.

“Some of the things she’s claimed are so off the wall, they are in her imagination,” Magazine said.

“I don’t know where to go with this. In fact, I’m not going anywhere with it.”