Council spends much of working session debating the role of public input

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Councilman Francis Lydian makes a point during a discussion of public input at city council meetings.

Tuesday, Feb 3, 2015, 11:55 p.m. — Questions about the public’s right to speak — and receive answers — at Bardstown City Council meetings filled most of council’s working session Tuesday evening.

Referring to Municipal Order 2013-19, an order that addresses how city council meetings are conducted, Councilman Francis Lydian offered a line of questions that focused on Mayor John Royalty’s refusal to answer questions from the audience at the Jan. 27 council meeting.

At that meeting, a group of citizens expressed their anger over the Royalty’s absence at the recent Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Royalty accepted comment from the group but did offer answers or explanations.

Lydian began by asking questions about the council or mayor’s ability to suspend the council’s own rules and make up its own, and if a vote by the council is required to do so.

City Attorney Bruce Reynolds listens to questions about the council’s right to amend its operating guidelines.

City Attorney Bruce Reynolds suggested that a proper motion would be to amend the municipal order rather attempt to suspend a part or portions of it.

Referring to the Jan. 27 council meeting, Lydian said Royalty claimed Municipal Order 2013-19 prohibited discussion during the public input part of the meeting.

“That word ‘discussion’ is not in that (municipal) order, so to me, you’re making your own rules up,” Lydian said. “That’s why I asked if you needed a vote to amend a rule, you follow me?”

From recent training sessions, Reynolds told the council he learned that Kentucky law states that citizens do not have an absolute right to speak at a public meetings, which include city council meetings. He added that with Municipal Order 2013-19, the city council has gone on record stating it wants to hear what citizens have to say.

Councilman Roland Williams expressed disappointment that individuals who sought answers at the last council meeting did not receive those answers.

Royalty told the council that the are the council’s meetings and intended for city business. “It’s your meeting and its a city business meeting, its not here to have disruptions.”

Councilman Roland Williams said he had no problem with the municipal order, but he said he misunderstood the part about public input. “I was really surprised when those in attendance at the last meeting couldn’t ask questions and get answers,” he said.

Hagan said he believed the best time for dialogue isn’t during council meetings, but is better suited to one-on-one conversations between citizens and the council or mayor.

The meetings should not be about what the mayor did or did not do, Councilman Bill Buckman said. “I was elected to guide city government, not make sure the mayor does what he’s supposed to do.”

Councilman Bill Buckman voice support for public input at council meetings that focused on the city services and issues.

Buckman suggested there be some clarification or announcement at the start of each meeting about he public comment period for those who wish to speak. “I agree that we should open up the floor and let them speak, but it has to be about city business.”

Lydian said he found nothing in the municipal order or Roberts Rules that prohibited a discussion with the public, and cited past meetings when he found himself pressured to respond to questions from the audience. He specifically referred to questions he received from a neighborhood representative about his business.

“They asked me 99 questions and I answered them, and it was personal,” he said. “I felt the heat then, but I answered them. If you can’t take the heat, move back and let someone else take the heat.”

Royalty said the council meetings aren’t supposed to be an event to bash the mayor or council. “If you want to answer a question from the audience, that’s your prerogative,” he told the council.

Mayor John Royalty and City Attorney Bruce Reynolds talk briefly before the beginning of Tuesday’s working session.

Williams suggested that each council meeting include a reminder to the audience who wish to address the council their concerns would be heard and addressed. “People would then know what they need to do if they have a grievance,” he said.

The council adjourned its working session to convene into a special council meeting and an executive session regarding the possible acquisition of real estate by a public agency. When the council returned to open session, Royalty announced there was no action taken.

NEXT UP. The council’s next regular meeting is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, in the council chambers next to the Rec Center on Xavier Drive.

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