A resolution that would have amended some of the rules of procedure for how Springfield City Council meetings are run was withdrawn by one of its sponsors at the April 21 meeting.
Whether it will again see the light of day wasn’t immediately known.
For now, Ward 9 Ald. Jim Donelan said he would be meeting with the ordinance’s other two sponsors, Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley and Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory, about next steps.
Donelan said City Clerk Chuck Redpath Sr., who initially approached him about the codification, and City Attorney Gregory Moredock would be included in the conversation.
“Last week, I heard concerns from some of my colleagues about some desired language changes,” Donelan said after the meeting. “I didn’t see any proposals in writing, so I thought it would be best to withdraw the ordinance and give us the opportunity to work together to see if we come up with something. Maybe we do, maybe we don’t, but I think it’s important to listen to others on the council.
“We’ll see how the conversations go.”
Ward 6 Ald. Jennifer Notariano particularly said the prohibition of addressing “allegations of wrongdoing” was “a little too limiting.”
“I would be open to someone addressing my wrongdoing,” Notariano said April 14 as city council members moved the ordinance to debate.
Ward 3 Ald. Roy Williams said he was tired of dealing with calls about people being banned from attending city councils or their comments not being allowed to be broadcast, when it is “(Mayor Misty Buscher) and her administration” making the decisions.
Tiara Standage of The PURPLE (People United to Reform Power, Liberty and Equity) Coalition was the latest to get notice from the city. In a letter posted on her Facebook page dated April 20, the city said it would not broadcast her comments for a period of 60 days after pointing out she used racial slurs in addressing the council April 14.
Standage used the racial slur to repeat alleged language used by former SPD Chief Michael Walton in city council chambers April 7. Walton has denied using the pejorative language.
On April 6, Roy Walton received a 90-day ban from attending city council meetings.
During the April 14 meeting, a number of speakers suggested the city was heading in the wrong direction in curbing some speech.
Megan Swanson said the ordinance erred in that it left “the appropriateness of speech” to the presiding officer.
While the mayor chairs city council meetings, alderpersons rotate in chairing committee of the whole meetings.
Under the ordinance’s new language, the mayor or presiding officer could interrupt or expel speakers who engage in prohibited conduct, like yelling, pounding the lectern, making personal threats or engaging in disruptive behavior.
“The city council is trying to add additional rules to stifle speech under the guise of decorum,” Swanson said. “It seems that the council is only willing to accept public comment that is genteel, proper, soft and gentle in tone. It doesn’t seem to matter what is said so much as the volume and the passion of the person who is speaking.”
Ken Pacha, also from The PURPLE Coalition, said that while council members have the right to draw common restrictions, like profanity, threats, and fighting words, “the language we use really isn’t up to you. You absolutely cannot stop me from making personal attacks on you as a politician. You absolutely cannot stop me from talking about your personal business as a politician.
“I’m going to caution you guys very strongly, when you talk about restricting people’s speech that you be very careful about that. It’s a very thin line between creating a safe space and censorship.”
Instead of sanitizing speech, Swanson suggested the city council focus on applying rules already in place across the board.
“This is your job, to hear the citizens of Springfield, to understand where they are coming from and (to) care,” she said.
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield alderman pulls ‘rules of procedures’ ordinance from vote
Reporting by Steven Spearie, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
