Day By Day by Chris Muir May 7, 2009 – The Definition of Cool
It was a controversial night for the Quincy City Council in its first meeting with newly elected members.
New members now split the council at seven Republicans and seven Democrats and it didn’t take long to put partisan politics in play when it came to allowing one Quincy man his turn to speak.
The council voted and refused conservative resident Steve McQueen, an organizer of Quincy’s April 4 Tea Party event, to voice his opinion about the city’s new proposed budget.
All seven Democrats in attendance voted against McQueen speaking, while all six Republicans in attendance voted in favor of him speaking. McQueen had formally filed a request to speak in front of the council.
“The vote is seven to six this evening so we will not have the speaker speak this evening,” Quincy mayor John Spring said.
Republican alderman Mike Rein was absent. Had Rein been there and voted in favor to let McQueen speak, Spring, a Democrat, would have been forced to vote to break the tie. When asked what he would have voted, Spring simply said it was a decision he didn’t have to make.
“I don’t think they realize necessarily that the Constitution states that they govern at our consent. Apparently they’ve forgotten that part,” McQueen said.
Voting against allowing McQueen to speak were Democrats Ben Bumbry, Virgil Goehl, Steve Duesterhaus, Dave Bauer, Raymond Vahlkamp, Jack Holtschlag and Richard Reis.
Voting to allow McQueen to speak were Republicans Kyle Moore, Paul Havermale, Michael Farha, Tony Sassen, Jennifer Lepper and Dan Brink.
McQueen said his issue with the budget invovles pay increases for department heads and non-union employees while increasing fees for residents.
“Passing a water-sewer increase that actually is a pay cut for people in Quincy in some pretty dire economic times,” McQueen said.
Farha said this was the first time in ten years he could recall something like this happening. Duesterhaus was quick to respond.
Flap is surprised, since local city councils bend over backwards to allow residents and VOTERS to speak.
Here is a response from the council members.
Steve Duesterhaus, an alderman for Ward 2, says timing is everything and that McQueen had three chances to speak prior to the council approving both the water and sewer increases and the new $31.2 million dollar budget last week.
“We had ample opportunity for people to comment on the issue Mr. McQueen wanted to discuss so not being timely I didn’t believe it was his right to have the floor,” Duesterhaus said. “That doesn’t prevent him from having his say in another forum or if he feels his information is of the utmost importance to the council he could easily put it in a letter and send it to us.”
Duesterhaus went on to say the council simply followed rules of order and did not have to allow McQueen to speak.
However. every Republican on the council voted in support of McQueen, including Jennifer Lepper. She says every resident should have the right to address the council, regardless of the issue.
“I personally thought that he should have the ability to have the floor and tell us what’s on his mind,” Lepper said. “He is a citizen of Quincy and he does pay his taxes he should have to right to voice his opinion to us.”
Perhaps the Quincy folks should televise their meetings on the local cable television channel and keep a closer eye on what is happening in THEIR local government.
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