Pueblog USa
Monday, December 24, 2007
What Should a Concerned Citizen Do?
When you’re watching City Council put their foot in it.
Last Monday, December 17, at a special meeting of City Council, Ted Freeman was in the audience while City Council proceeded to introduce an ordinance (or, several ordinances, judging from the Public Notices published later in the week). This was against the City’s charter (the equivalent of a constitution on the city level). Further, the ordinances were an add-on to the published purpose of the meeting, which was to reschedule the regular meeting that would have been held on December 24.
Mr. Freeman rose and challenged the actions of the City Council. He told them they were out of order. Council President Weaver told him he was out of order, gavel pounding and shouting followed, with threats to have Mr. Freeman removed, etc. I’ve been told the brou-ha-ha lasted about 30 seconds, although it probably seemed much longer.
Later in the week, Tom Jagger, City Attorney, said that Mr. Freeman was correct in that the Charter does not allow ordinances to be introduced at special meetings. So, given that the Council members, the City Clerk, the City Manager, and the City Attorney were all present, but none of them remembered that they couldn’t introduce an ordinance, just what was Mr. Freeman supposed to do?