OPINION – I find the decision by Mayor Friedel and the members of the council to suspend Call to the Public very disturbing.
In 27 years of viewing or attending council meetings I have seen many residents address the council. Questions, concerns, anger, ideas have all been voiced by townspeople and listened to by mayors and council members.
I will use ROT as an example, since it speaks to recent events. Members of that Public Action Committee spoke weekly at council meetings, usually in negative terms about the mayor and the sitting council members they believed were not supporting their view. ROT speakers were not gaveled down for their opinions or threatened with expulsion. When supporters applauded certain statements, the mayor did not yell at them to stop clapping.
