Alton Tries to Silence its Citizens

Bear Islander · 03-25-2015, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

This was a good move by the Alton BoS and IMO they got some advice from the Town attorney to do what they did.
The board needs time to get things organized and find out how they want to handle public input so that it will be fair to the public and the board.

In the end I believe that the 5 minute public input time will allow anyone to say what they want as long as there isn't any violation of the BoS policy. The policy needs to be revised also because it was done in a hurry to put out a fire that was getting out of control.

Good job Alton BoS.

Rusty had me wondering just how badly this fire is out of control. So I went back and checked the Alton BOS Minutes. I went back to last June. There are two "Public Input" sessions per meeting. At no time did anyone speak at the second Public Input opportunity.

6/23/14 . 0 speakers
07/7/14 . 0 speakers
7/21/14 . 0 speakers
8/18/14 . 0 speakers
9/22/14 . 0 speakers
10/6/14 . 1 speaker
10/20/14 . 0 speakers
11/17/14 . 0 speakers
12/1/14 . 2 speakers
12/15/14 . 3 speakers
1/14/15 . 1 speaker

That is a total of 7 speakers in 8 months. Times are not listed but with a 5 minute limit that equates to a maximum of 35 minutes that the BOS have had to listen to "Public Input" over an 8 month period. Is the the FIRE that Rusty wants the BOS to put out?

Tired of Waiting · 03-25-2015, 03:31 PM

Looks like a real barn burner to me.

Some one actually spoke at one of their meetings. Oh the horror of it all.

ToW

MDoug · 03-25-2015, 03:31 PM

Wish George Orwell were around to comment.

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Of course Lord Acton would be a welcome guest, also.

"Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Rusty · 03-25-2015, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

Rusty had me wondering just how badly this fire is out of control. So I went back and checked the Alton BOS Minutes. I went back to last June. There are two "Public Input" sessions per meeting. At no time did anyone speak at the second Public Input opportunity.

6/23/14 . 0 speakers
07/7/14 . 0 speakers
7/21/14 . 0 speakers
8/18/14 . 0 speakers
9/22/14 . 0 speakers
10/6/14 . 1 speaker
10/20/14 . 0 speakers
11/17/14 . 0 speakers
12/1/14 . 2 speakers
12/15/14 . 3 speakers
1/14/15 . 1 speaker

That is a total of 7 speakers in 8 months. Times are not listed but with a 5 minute limit that equates to a maximum of 35 minutes that the BOS have had to listen to "Public Input" over an 8 month period. Is the the FIRE that Rusty wants the BOS to put out?

Nice job with the research.
At all of those meetings there wasn't a 5 minute limit for public speaking. That got added to the policy after Mr. Clay spoke for over twenty minutes and wouldn't stop because the policy didn't have a time limit. He had to be escorted out of a few meetings because he wouldn't stop talking.
Anyway, what I meant by "FIRE" is when the trouble started with Mr.CLay sometime in the beginning of this year. He kept testing the board about time so they had to set a 5 minute time limit after that and as we all know got arrested.
This is unfortunate and I dislike it as much as anyone here. However, something had to be done and the BoS chose a route to take, that route might not of been the best one and it will probably cost the tax payers money to get a resolution.
I hope that it can be resolved without litigation and the Alton BoS can get back to the business of getting things done for all the citizens.

BTW, there are two new members on the board and a new chair was selected at the first meeting after the Town elections. I say this because someone said there needs to be new members on the board.

Bear Islander · 03-25-2015, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty

Nice job with the research.
At all of those meetings there wasn't a 5 minute limit for public speaking. That got added to the policy after Mr. Clay spoke for over twenty minutes and wouldn't stop because the policy didn't have a time limit. He had to be escorted out of a few meetings because he wouldn't stop talking.
Anyway, what I meant by "FIRE" is when the trouble started with Mr.CLay sometime in the beginning of this year. He kept testing the board about time so they had to set a 5 minute time limit after that and as we all know got arrested.
This is unfortunate and I dislike it as much as anyone here. However, something had to be done and the BoS chose a route to take, that route might not of been the best one and it will probably cost the tax payers money to get a resolution.
I hope that it can be resolved without litigation and the Alton BoS can get back to the business of getting things done for all the citizens.

BTW, there are two new members on the board and a new chair was selected at the first meeting after the Town elections. I say this because someone said there needs to be new members on the board.

I can understand that the BOS wanted to do something about Mr. Clay talking for 20 minutes. They came up with a good solution, limit the "Public Input" to 5 minutes per person. However instead of allowing Mr. Clay his 5 minutes the had him arrested. And, yes, I saw the video, in my opinion "they had him arrested" is the proper wording.

I understand there have been at least 2 BOS meetings since his arrest. Does anybody know why the minutes of those meetings have not been posted?

Rusty · 03-27-2015, 07:58 AM

"A charge of disorderly conduct lodged against Jeffrey T. Clay that alleges he purposely caused a breach of the peace by disrupting the meeting by
continuing to speak after being informed “repetitively” by the board that public input was closed was dropped on March 23.
A second charge against him for knowingly refusing to comply with a lawful order given by Police Chief Ryan Heath to move from the Alton Town Hall is still pending and is scheduled for trial on April 6."

Tired of Waiting · 03-27-2015, 09:25 AM

Back peddling going on here.

Also the article may be wrong but brings up the part of whether the police chief was present during the meeting or was called in. One of the last paragraphs states that the selectmen left the room and brought back the chief.

This is what I always thought happened but some here have said that was not the case.

No I'm not going to watch the film again cause I feel it's a moot point to the case.

ToW

03-25-2015, 03:31 PM	#2
Tired of Waiting Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 519 Thanks: 111 Thanked 259 Times in 107 Posts	That must be the one. Looks like a real barn burner to me. Some one actually spoke at one of their meetings. Oh the horror of it all. ToW

03-25-2015, 03:31 PM	#3
MDoug Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 342 Thanks: 116 Thanked 42 Times in 39 Posts	Animal Farm? Wish George Orwell were around to comment. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Of course Lord Acton would be a welcome guest, also. "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

03-27-2015, 09:25 AM	#7
Tired of Waiting Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 519 Thanks: 111 Thanked 259 Times in 107 Posts	A little Back peddling going on here. Also the article may be wrong but brings up the part of whether the police chief was present during the meeting or was called in. One of the last paragraphs states that the selectmen left the room and brought back the chief. This is what I always thought happened but some here have said that was not the case. No I'm not going to watch the film again cause I feel it's a moot point to the case. ToW

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