A defiant William Black last night pledged to continue as a Corporation of Hamilton alderman — despite City Hall claiming he had been "removed" from office.

The ever-decreasing Corporation issued a press release yesterday announcing the loss of yet another member — its fourth since February, with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the eligibility of a fifth.

The dwindling municipality now has only the minimum number of members needed to carry out the business of the city, meaning that if any member cannot attend a meeting it cannot take place.

Yesterday's statement put out by public relations firm Troncossi was headed "Bill Black removed from the Corporation" and declared that the former Deputy Mayor had "ceased to hold office" as alderman due to "defects in his position as a nominee" on the voters' register.

But Mr. Black told The Royal Gazette: "I haven't been removed from office. I'm a taxpayer in the City of Hamilton since 1983. I'm not resigning from my position."

The standoff is the latest twist in an ongoing saga at City Hall which began when Mr. Black made a complaint earlier this year alleging that fellow members Graeme Outerbridge and David Dunkley were not eligible to serve.

An investigation was launched which determined that Mr. Dunkley, an alderman, was ineligible.

He is appealing that decision at Magistrates' Court and continues to serve on the Corporation.

Mr. Outerbridge resigned his common councillor seat in May in order to re-register on the voters' list and stand again for election on July 21 — when the four vacant posts will be up for grabs in a by-election.

Former policeman Mr. Black, 70, told this newspaper he had consulted a lawyer and was considering appealing the Corporation's decision to remove him.

He said it was "quite possible" that he would continue attending City Hall meetings even though the Corporation no longer considers him a member and has removed his name and photograph from its website.

The law governing the Corporation, the Municipalities Act 1923, states that a member ceases to hold office if they cease to be a municipal elector or the nominee of such an elector.

Corporation Secretary Kelly Miller said last night that Mr. Black was registered on the municipal register as a nominee for a company called Island-Wide Security from 1988.

He sold that company in February 2002 and it was removed from the register in 2007. Ms Miller said that a recent review of all members' registration uncovered a defect concerning Mr. Black, who first stood for election on the Corporation about three years ago.

"The legal advice provided was that he ceased to hold office as an alderman by virtue of defects in his position as a nominee," she said.

Mr. Black, of Paget, is currently listed as the nominee for Rachel Enterprises, a registered company which he owns based at The Security Centre, 42 King Street, Hamilton.

He was informed of the Secretary's decision by letter earlier this week but said he did not understand its basis.

Last night, he accused Ms Miller of "appalling" record keeping at City Hall and said that when he first ran for a Corporation post she assured him he was properly registered.

Ms Miller would not go into detail about the "defects" in Mr. Black's position. She said: "It is regrettable that the former alderman continues his personal attacks."

Mr. Black's departure follows the loss of three common councillors. Carvel VanPutten was asked to resign last week after failing to attend meetings for three months, Mr. Outerbridge stepped down in May and George Grundmuller gave up his seat for business reasons in February.

Mayor Sutherland Madeiros is understood to be off the Island and could not be contacted for comment. Acting Mayor Courtland Boyle thanked Mr. Black for his service to the city.

Mr. Black was deposed as Deputy Mayor by other members in March and claimed at the time that they were "just out to hang me".

Asked what the atmosphere was like now at City Hall, he said yesterday: "There are very few people there now. It's not very friendly."