Sunday, September 14, 2014

Rules are for the other guy

Comment Up
I'm above the Rules or,
"I can't find my gavel?"

The Mayor broke the rules. The entire Commission, the City Attorney and the City Manager allowed the Rules of Decorum, their own rules, to be thrown out and flushed down their political petty toilet all for "getting even" with the "face" of their opposition.  This is not done in a democracy.  The failure of the Lake Worth Commission and its staff in its abuse of power failed to respect Constitutional rights and freedom of expression of this blogger and/or any citizen in this city who disagrees with their policies.  They were out for retribution for losing the bond election. Their decision to break the Rules undermines the democratic legitimacy of this commission. Immediate action must be taken to protect the dignity of the meetings and to ensure that  fundamental rights are protected under Rule 14, Decorum for Citizen participation.

I have written the mayor on this subject before, to no avail.  Voices of some of the citizens (their opposition) are discarded, thrown away, ridiculed and/or abused. Commissioners sneer or even lean back in their seat and roll their eyes at some comments.  They are losing elections because they DO NOT LISTEN. However there is a Rule of Decorum.  If our commission can't follow its own rules in this respect, then what do we have?  A despotic abuse of power--Tyranny?  Anarchy?  Have the commission meetings now been allowed to become  hate fests for personal attacks towards people of the opposition?  Is this Pakistan?  Is this Syria?  What about ISIS where they are beheading journalists?  Is that next?

On August 29, 2014, in an e-mail to me, the mayor said: "With all my heart I want to end this chasm and move us forward."  That thought lasted 14 days. It's no wonder that 50% of the voters don't trust. It needs to end with you, mayor.

415 RULE 14
416 DECORUM FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
417
418 (a) In support of and respect for an open, fair and informed decision-making process, the
419 City Commission and Administration recognize that:
420
421 (1) Civil, respectful and courteous discourse and behavior are conducive to the
422 democratic and harmonious airing of concerns and decision making; and
423
424 (2) Un-civil discourse and/or discourteous and inappropriate behavior have a
425 negative impact on the character and productivity of the decision-making process.
426
427 (b) In an effort to preserve the intent of open government and maintain a positive
428 environment for citizen input and Commission decision-making, the following Rules of
429 Decorum for Citizen Participation have been established.
430
431 Compliance with these rules is expected and appreciated. The Rules of Decorum for
432 Citizen Participation will be included in the agenda and will be referenced at the beginning
433 of each Commission meeting and Commission Work Session by the Chair. A written list of
434 the Rules of Decorum for Citizen Participation will also be printed and mounted upon the
435 walls of the Commission Chamber and Conference Room and upon the speaker’s podium
436 in the Commission Chamber.
437
438 (1) Speakers will conduct themselves in a civil and respectful manner at all times.
439
440 (2) Speakers will address the Chair.
441
442 (3) Questions to Commission members or City staff will be facilitated by the Chair.
443
444 (4) Speakers will refrain from the use of obscene language, “fighting words” likely to
445 incite violence from the individuals(s) to whom the words are addressed, or other
446 language which is disruptive to the orderly and fair progress of discussion at the
447 meeting.
448
449 (5) Speakers will refrain from making comments of a personal nature regarding
450 others.
451


Pg 35
452 (6) Name-calling and/or obscenity is forbidden.
453
454 (7) Shouting, yelling or screaming is forbidden.
455
456 (8) Commission Work Session or Public Hearing attendees (audience) will refrain
457 from commenting, shouting, booing, clapping, stomping feet or other
458 inappropriate and/or disruptive behavior. Brief clapping is permissible at the end
459 of a speaker’s comments.
460
461 (c) It is the intent of Commission to maintain order and enforce the Rules of Decorum for
462 Citizen Participation for its meetings. Disregard of these rules will be met with the
463 following consequences:

464
465 (1) The Chair will identify out loud the out-of-compliance behavior and request for the
466 behavior to stop;
467
468 (2) The Chair will ask the speaker to have a seat if he/she continues to disrupt the
469 meeting;
470
471 (3) If the speaker refuses to have a seat, the Chair will recess the meeting; and
472
473 (4) Will instruct a law enforcement officer to instruct the speaker to stop the
474 disruptive conduct and escort the speaker out of the meeting venue.
 

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I donot take any side, but would have to say you make a mountain out of a mole hill. The commission did not take you to task unless you count the szerdi attempt. 2 citizens just got tired of your rant. Very minor compared to your daily dose of nonsense.

Lynn Anderson said...

This blog is not about two citizens who are tired of my views and one who ranted for months on Facebook and who has been an arbitrary figure for years. This is about the commission NOT following rules of protocol and decorum--rules they agreed to. In your eyes "nonsense." In others, TRUTH.

Anonymous said...

i guess all that talk on your blog about big girl panties does not apply to you?

Lynn Anderson said...

I guess, mayor, if you would read the blog and comprehend it, then you would realize that I am writing about an abuse of power and what you allowed to happen at city hall that never should have occurred because of rules in place that you agreed to follow. It was abuse, pure and simple.

My big girl panties are on...I was the victim of your vendetta. I am writing about it to expose the tyranny taking place in our city. As I said to you, I will not step back. This is an ethics violation of huge proportions in my mind.

Weetha Peebull said...

They Obviously pick and choose which laws to follow and which to ignore.

We are punished to force compliance - what is the "Dais Punishment" for disobedience? How about $250 a day till you apologize and correct it?

If punishment for disobedience to your laws is good enough for US then it's good enough for the dais!

Anonymous said...

ethics violation? if you are trying to make a point, this seems very weak. there was no yelling, no vulgarity, no one was allowed to speak past two minutes.

Anonymous said...

Lynn, I am with you, demand respect and proper protocol to be used at meetings and from elected officials. I agree, it has happened to me by leaders in this city too, former mayor, capt. a few city managers, they treat people horribly, unacceptable, they DO NOT LISTEN, they think we do not have any education, a mind of our own or an opinion or what we think doesn't matter. Lynn, most of us respect you because we also have seen this happen with our city leaders. We all know the truth, the truth will set us free, these people will all go down in history as being bad people and bad leaders, they won't get re-elected and will fade away. Stand strong and proud, we are with you Lynn. Don't let these egos bring you down, they need to earn your respect, not the other way around. This city has some huge problems, most dealing with poor leaders, we have problems with ego and weak leadership now with the mayor, CM, postmaster, PBSO Capt, and commission. they are being bullies, they do not listen and they think we do not have a mind of our own, what we think doesn't matter. They like to turn things on citizens saying "oh you are just a complainer" or "you won't be taken seriously." They like to silence citizens and treat them poorly, the real leaders in our city are really doing things to make this city better, they are not any of the above mentioned, they may hold those positions, but do not do anything that earns real respect. We need to be listened to and respected, we need to be made that they care about how we feel. That our opinions matter, we are the public that elected these folks and they should listen more to us and treat us respectfully like you show above. Keep up the fight Lynn!

Anonymous said...

The fact that rules were broken and ignored should have some ramification for the Mayor. I feel that it would only be professional and ethical to not allow this in the city commission meetings regardless. This needs to stop NOW and the Mayor needs to step up and make it known at the next meeting so the citizens don't have to sit through nonsense. LW needs serious discussion and time shouldn't be wasted on this pettiness. Those that participated should have been shamed!

Anonymous said...

When thinking of you Lynn victim does not fit. Anyway your whole arguement does not hold water.

Lynn Anderson said...

My argument holds water if you just read the Rules of Decorum for a public meeting and public commentary, anonymous at 10:42. But I am not surprised by your comment or lack of comprehension in this matter. Obviously, you too, don't believe in the freedom of the press and probably support that bully on the other side of politics.

jack the ripper said...

Anony at 10:42. Are you kidding? People are human and they have feelings. Bullies don't have any and this is exactly what was allowed to be done to Lynn by a few bullies. This commission has lost any respect it used to have, if it ever had any to begin with. Not sure about that. What kills me the most is that I voted for a few of these people. Shame on me. What in the hell was i thinking? Live and learn.

Anonymous said...

this is more entertainment than anything. lynn you set the stage for this behavior. now you are trying to make this some big deal.

Lynn Anderson said...

It IS a bid deal anonymous at 11:17. Don't make light of a dais out of control because they got their panties in a wad and lost this election and now want blood. They already faced the voters who told them NO.

We are not here to agree with politicians but here to hold them accountable for their actions. That's what it's all about. So, it is THEY who have set the stage.

Anonymous said...

mayor, can you jsut follow the f-ing rules?

Anonymous said...

NO, she can't follow the Rules! She breaks them when it is convenient. What a smuck! I used to have confidence in her but that is gone!!!! She needs to act like a leader, not a weak Mayor at the dais.

Ross said...

Are we going to get any other aliens to run for commission in March or the same ones? Say no to incumbents!

Anonymous said...

Do any recordings of the meetings still exist when Cara Jennings was on the dais ? Pam Triolo needs to look at them and take a lesson on how to treat the people that come to city commission meetings. No matter what people said to or about Ms. Jennings (and there was a LOT of dirt thrown at her )Ms. Jennings was unfailingly polite and civil.Pam Triolo allowed an armed law enforcement officer to stand behind and intimidate a citizen that was practicing their first amendment right.Mr. Timm is well known and comments at every meeting he is at. He was not using profanity. He was not threatening anyone. He was just talking about something that Pam Triolo did not want to hear. Legally, Mr. Timm has a great case for elder abuse and the breaking of his civil rights.Capt Silva needs to better school his gang of garbage collectors with a badge and gun in the meaning of what they can and cannot do in America. Sue the crap out of these clowns, Mr. Timm. And do it quick before Pam Lopez "accidentally" gets rid of the tape .

Anonymous said...

I definitely think that the City leaders pick and choose who they are interested in hearing from. Clearly on the bond topic they discounted any grumblings from folks who thought this bond proposal was too big and too unfair (meaning, only a small % of property owners would pay for it), they ignored that grumbling to their peril.

I was hoping that post election, we could come together and move forward but the Mayor's video which disparaged those who voted no as being against everything and broken offended me. Then holding a meeting on the election result, a waste of City time and resources further soured my outlook.

I've been trying to get a meeting with the City Manager for more than a year now, but others seems to have no problem scheduling meetings, why is that?

Anonymous said...

This LW CM is the absolute worst we have had. He ignores your emails for meeting and talking and does not response to calls or emails. We need a commission to fire his ass, as citizens we deserve better than this from a public servant. The commission should be embarrassed for allowing him to treat citizens this way.