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Call your council member

My father, who was on the original City Charter committee, is rolling over in his grave, after the Jan. 9 Parkersburg City Council meeting. I appreciate the passing of the amendment restoring the five minute limit per person for the public forum, instead of the two minute limit imposed months ago. But NOT at the expense of losing the ability to bring ANY matter before city council! Yes, this Parkersburg City Council voted to limit the public forum to items on the current meeting agenda.

I was there, and I have also reviewed the video of the meeting. It was obvious that city council members were aware, and perhaps even discussed the amendment making this change to the rules pertaining to the public forum. The two amendments were added to Resolution number 6B, which added a sign-in sheet for individuals speaking before the council, supposedly so that the city clerk could get the names correct. When I saw this item on the agenda before the meeting, I thought to myself, “If the newspaper can get the names right, why can’t the city clerk?” However, I accepted the explanation that the president of council provided to the one person who asked about it. However, as passed with this amendment, it is a travesty for the citizens of Parkersburg.

The council person who requested this amendment was the same council person who got up and walked out during a public forum in 2017, when he did not like the topic. Did city council discuss the resolution and the amendments before the meeting? Did they violate the Ethics commission test for open meetings by doing so? Why wasn’t the public given the opportunity to weigh in on this matter before the vote? Perhaps because when they tried to pass it in 2017, it was defeated because of the public outcry.

If you have the same questions as I do, and are as concerned as I am about council limiting our free speech during public meetings, I encourage you to contact your council person and tell them how you feel. If you do not know who your representative is, here is the link to the website parkersburgcity.com/pc/government/city-council/

Sue Ellen Waybright

Parkersburg

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