City Council President Calls For Civility

  City Council President Patrick Keefe opened this week’s Council meeting with a review of the Open Meeting Law and rules of decorum at public meetings. Keefe, and other councillors, were responding to the March 27 meeting about the high school building project which saw a large and excited audience yelling out comments, speaking out of order and disrupting the meeting in other ways, including a brief scuffle between residents that made it into the Boston news reports.

  “We want as much public participation as possible. We owe it to you to open that process,” said Keefe, who added that the actions of a few should not represent the community as a whole.”

  The rules emphasized by the council begin with that all people attending a council meeting must be silent. Anyone who disrupts a proceeding may be told by the chairman to withdraw from the meeting. If a person disrupting a meeting refuse to withdraw, the chairperson may ask a constable or other law enforcement to remove that person.

  Despite the shouting and disruptions at the March 27 meeting, Keefe characterized it as a very good meeting with 60 to 80 people expressing their views. In the past, councillors have praised residents who attend meetings to stand up for issues in their neighborhoods.

  Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna asked the council to award a commendation to three officers who intervened when an exchange between members of the audience came to blows. Former City Council candidate Wayne Rose argued with another participant at the meeting and hit him in the face.

  Rose was arrested and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. However, the judge said as long as Rose remains 25 feet away from the victim, he can continue to attend council meetings.