Free Speech Moves Forward
By Robin Vinci at October 3, 2023 | 8:00 pm | Print
Members of the Administration, Finance and Law approved an amendment allowing for public participation during any regularly scheduled meeting and/or special meeting of the Common Council. The amendment to ordinance 2-22 will now move to Wednesday night for full approval from the Common Council.
“This resolution allows for public participation at our public meeting to give every resident a fair chance to speak their mind,” said Alderman Tobias Freeman.
Alderman Manny Sanchez agreed, saying this ordinance shows good faith that council is listening to residents.
“Typically this hasn’t been an issue over the past whatever years I have been on the council,” said Alderman Suzanne Bielinski. “But, it is good to have it stated.”
Alderman Willie Pabon’s statement disagreed with it not being an issue.
“The Council should have done this a long time ago. I know there were bad raps for special meetings behind closed doors,” said Pabon. “I think this will take care of that problem.”
The present Common Council led by Mayor Tim O’Brien has had 12 Special Council meetings since Jan. 2012.
Special meetings without public participation included landlord fees, hiring a grant writer, a contract for Oktoberfest, budget requests, bonding, capitol improvement items, contracting an agreement with COVANTA and more.
Many people claimed some of these items were not time sensitive and could have been done in a regular meeting when the public was allowed to speak.
“To me this is a no brainer. Getting more people involved in the process it good,” said Alderman Jamie Giantonio. “Often due to timing there is a need to have specials meetings to get work done by a special deadline. I think affording the public another chance to address this council is a no-brainer.”
“The reality is during the last four years I have been on council there has been a couple of special meetings and often times they were very necessary and sometimes I thought maybe not,” said Alderman Carlo Carlozzi. “There was nothing in the ordinance that said it (public audience) was prohibited, but the way it was written, it just mentioned the regularly scheduled meeting. Because of that the standing practice of the council was just that it wasn’t allowed. Instead of that happening down the road, I think all our meetings should have public participation.”
The resolution states, “There shall be public participation sessions held prior to each regularly scheduled common council meeting from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and for thirty minutes prior to each special common council meeting at which time members of the public shall be afforded the opportunity to address the members of the common council on any matters concerning the operations of city government as well as on matters on the agenda of the meeting. Such sessions must be attended by the respective department heads, or their designee, who will respond to any questions concerning the operation of their respective department. Individuals who insist on making slanderous remarks, engaging in or behaving in a disruptive, disorderly or discourteous manner will not be allowed to continue in attendance at such a meeting. If such behavior cannot be contained, the meeting for that date will be terminated. No placards, slogans or banners shall be allowed into the council chambers at such a meeting.”
If meetings begin at 6 p.m., the public audience will begin at 6 and end at 6:30 p.m., said Carlozzi, who called for the amendment. He said that public audience can run over a half hour stated if the council chooses.
Also named to the resolution were Aldermen Sanchez, Giantonio and Pabon.
