UPDATE: The Council backed down on its decision to ban the CDTC spokesperson from speaking, the CDTC spokesman spoke and Tom Gentz attempted to deny the council ever voted to block him from speaking.
By a 3-1 vote, the Town Council will not allow rep of the Democratic Town Committee to speak
By a 3-1 vote, the Town Council will not allow rep of the Democratic Town Committee to speak
By Will Collette
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| Slattery - SHOCKED that a political group would speak before the Council |
In an action reminiscent of the bad old days of Jim Mageau, a Council majority, led by CCA’s candidates Dan Slattery and Tom Gentz with support from Marge Frank, voted to deny the request of the Democratic Town Committee to have member Tim Quillen speak on behalf of the committee at the September 12 Council meeting. Councilor Gregg Avedisian argued against the motion and voted no. Councilor DiBello was absent.
If you watch the Clerkbase video of the Council’s meeting on Wednesday, September 7, you will see Councilor Dan Slattery denounce the very idea of a person coming before the Council to represent a political group. Slattery served as President of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA).
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| Council President Tom Gentz: "We're trying to stay apolitical as a Council" Gentz and Slattery ran at the top of CCA's 2010 endorsed slate. |
Slattery was supported by fellow CCA Councilor Tom Gentz who said he “didn’t want a bunch of political things” and that they “were trying to stay apolitical as a Council.” Gentz is the serving Secretary of the CCA.
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) is, among other things, a state-recognized Political Action Committee or PAC. See its most recent campaign finance report by clicking here.
There is no basis in law nor support for this position in the Council’s procedural rules. According to the current Council rules:
5.8 Public Hearing (re: ordinances and/or amendments): The public hearing portion of the agenda shall be conducted as follows: The Town Council President will invite the applicant or his/her representative to give a brief explanation of the item for the benefit of the Council and the public. Members of the public shall then be permitted to speak on the item until all who wish to speak have had an opportunity to do so. Members of the Council shall reserve their questions and comments until after the public has spoken. The Council President in his/her discretion may allow brief, clarifying questions by the Council or brief discussion when such will be likely to expedite the business of the Council. After the public discussion is finished and the Council has had discussion, the Council President will close the public hearing. At this point, a motion is made for a decision to approve, deny or table the item.
As President of the CCA, Mr. Slattery himself frequently took the floor during Jim Mageau’s 2007-2008 term of office to lambaste Mageau and his colleagues on behalf of the CCA. And if you look through the old Council minutes, you’ll see lots of examples of group spokespersons who have stood and spoken before the Council for their organizations on a wide range of controversial topics. Without objection.
But that was then – when Slattery was not in power – and this is now – when he is.
