Public Input Curtailed by Point Beach Council

Point Beach Council voted to no longer allow public comment at the end of meetings, but that new rule seemed to be forgotten by the end of the meeting.

Councilman Tim Lurie made the motion to limit public input, allowing for a public comment period after the minutes are approved and allocating a maximum of five minutes to each person.

He said the meetings go on too long, which is especially a concern now "as we're getting into silly season."

"And it looks like silly season just started," Mayor Vincent Barrella countered.

Lurie was talking about campaign time, which was kicked up a notch last week when Lurie as a write-in candidate.

He is running against Barrella, running as an Independent, and Republican Stephen Reid.

Councilmen Jeff Dyer and Sean Hennessy voted with Lurie to only allow public comment at public hearings for adoption of ordinances, which is legally required, and shortly after the beginning of meetings.

Council members Kristine Tooker and Michael Corbally voted against the reduced public input time, a sentiment echoed by Barrella, who did not get a vote because there was no tie.

Councilman Frank Rizzo was absent.

At least half a dozen meeting regulars, such as Dave Cavagnaro and Ben DeSpoto, who frequently disagree with the three councilmen on multiple issues, voiced their opposition to the new policy.

DeSpoto said, "It seems like you're trying to erode public input, and I think council should remember that you were elected by us. It's government for the people, by the people. You people work for us, we don't work for you."

Stan Angeloni, Chicago Avenue, eyed Lurie and said, "You volunteered for this job. If you want to go home at 9, maybe you should find another hobby," getting a laugh from the audience.

Michael Ramos got up at the microphone and said, "Well said, Stan."

However, by the end of the meeting, a few hours after it had begun, the mayor and council seemed to have forgotten the new rule, as well as the old rule requiring all speakers to come to the microphone, give their name and address and continue speaking into the microphone so their comments are recorded as part of the official record.

During a council discussion about whether solar panels should ever be considered for any municipally-owned buildings, resident Glen Paesano, while still sitting in the first row, voiced his concern about such panels.

Lurie, who had apparently forgotten his own new rule, the mayor and other council members, never told Paesano that he actually wasn't allowed to speak, since it was not during the public comment portion at the beginning of the meeting and they weren't talking about an ordinance.

Barrella and the council listened to Paesano, also without anyone reminding Paesano about the old rule, to come to the microphone, identify himself and speak the entire time into the microphone.

During the past six months, Barrella has usually reminded the public to come to the microphone to speak. But occasionally he has forgotten and individuals have spoken from various spots in the room, instead of at the microphone.

Just before Paesano spoke, Administrator Christine Riehl was saying that school district officials are letting the town know they may have solar panels installed on school buildings.

However, a vendor is saying that the school roofs alone are not enough to make the job worth it, so the district wants to know if the town is interested in piggybacking on a potential contract.

"It wouldn't cost the town anything because the school district would be paying for it," Riehl said.

Lurie then said that if solar panels need to be replaced in the future, they really aren't free.

Paesano then voiced concerns about solar panels while he was still sitting.

He had spoken at the microphone earlier in the meeting, but the council policy is to have people identify themselves and speak into the microphone every time they speak.