Posted 10:42 am Thursday, September 30, 2010
Upshur County Commissioners Ban Public Comments At Meetings
BY PHILLIP WILLIAMS
Special Correspondent
GILMER -- After a heated discussion, Upshur County Commissioners Court voted 3-1 today to stop hearing public comment at its meetings.
Special Correspondent
GILMER -- After a heated discussion, Upshur County Commissioners Court voted 3-1 today to stop hearing public comment at its meetings.
The action came after the court heard repeated criticism from citizens over the past several months of the performances of various county officials. At its Sept. 15 meeting, the last one held before today, the court cut off public comment within seconds after the only speaker began his presentation, which was critical of most court members.
Precinct Three Commissioner Lloyd Crabtree complained today that the public comment section of the agenda had "become a political forum...a place to campaign."
Crabtree added, "When they are criticizing our employees and we can't respond (under the Open Meetings Law), it's got to stop."
Crabtree's motion passed over the strenuous objection of Precinct One Commissioner James Crittenden, who said approving it would mean the court has "deprived the public." One citizen who often complains to the court, Jimmy Caughron, put a piece of duct tape over his mouth in protest of the court's action, and afterwards told a reporter that the court was not giving people "the right of freedom of speech."
County Judge Dean Fowler, who did not vote, told Crittenden that if one of the commissioner's constituents had a problem, he/she could come to Crittenden about it. Fowler pointed out that the Texas Legislature doesn't allow citizen comment.
Commissioners Joe (Buddy) Ferguson and Glenn Campbell joined Crabtree in approving the ban.
Crabtree added, "When they are criticizing our employees and we can't respond (under the Open Meetings Law), it's got to stop."
Crabtree's motion passed over the strenuous objection of Precinct One Commissioner James Crittenden, who said approving it would mean the court has "deprived the public." One citizen who often complains to the court, Jimmy Caughron, put a piece of duct tape over his mouth in protest of the court's action, and afterwards told a reporter that the court was not giving people "the right of freedom of speech."
County Judge Dean Fowler, who did not vote, told Crittenden that if one of the commissioner's constituents had a problem, he/she could come to Crittenden about it. Fowler pointed out that the Texas Legislature doesn't allow citizen comment.
Commissioners Joe (Buddy) Ferguson and Glenn Campbell joined Crabtree in approving the ban.
