ANOTHER VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT?: ITS CALLED THE WELCH HOKEY POKEY By Marchelle Martha Barber, Publisher and Photojournalist for the INFORMER (September 7, 2014) It seems during every public meeting -- especially during the City Council Meetings -- Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welchs actions appear to violate the Open Meetings Act. So whats new? During the August 25 City Council meeting, Mayor Welch TRICKED the Aldermen into doing noting at all while he forced residents who wanted to address Council to speak DIRECTLY to him and keep their backs turned towards the audience. The INFORMER is not aware of any law requiring people who speak during public meetings to stand a certain way, speak a certain way, have their feet and shoulders pointed directed to elected officials, look directly at elected officials, or have their backs facing the audience. And by the way, no law requires people who speak in public meetings to not anger Mayor Welch or other elected officials. Nor does any law the INFORMER knows about require public speakers to kiss our elected officials behind. But now, Mayor Welch has his own form of The Welch Hokey Pokey, constantly interrupting speakers and having them removed if they are not physically facing him or talking directly to him. How absurd that this foolishness has continued for so long. During this August 25 City Council meeting, due to a storm earlier that day, the microphones were out during the meeting. Therefore, it was even more OUTRAGEOUS for Mayor Welch to DEMAND that speakers only face him and ignore the almost 80 or so people in the audience. But as you can see in this video, Welch demanded the speakers do this anyway. Since the next City Council meeting is tomorrow (Monday, September 8, 2014), I hope the Council will stop Mayor Welch from implementing The Welch Hokey Pokey Rule. After all, The Welch Hokey Pokey Rule was designed to INTIMIDATE speakers who are told to face him. It also gives Mayor Welch yet another reason to interrupt them during their three minute presentations. After one speaker used the term Uncle Tom during a June 2014 City Council meeting, at the following Council meeting Welch told everyone he felt people were playing for the cameras, so, without any vote at all, he implemented this bizarre rule. We know Welch has no respect for residents, but the Aldermen have allowed this to go on since then. And before one particular Aldermen blows up the INFORMERS phone or send another text message challenging why the citizens rights to speak have not been protected, and before this same Aldermen huffs and puffs about all he has done to stand up to Welch, and before this same elected official reminds the INFORMER he is heading an effort to get rid of Welch with a Term Limits Referendum, KNOW that the INFORMER realizes this: Getting rid of Mayor Welch with a Term Limits Referendum isnt something you and some others are doing to protect the town. It is being done to protect your jobs. We all saw how the Aldermen did virtually nothing at all to combat Mayor Welch when he and his sidekicks found a way to remove half the Council on the last Referendum, under the guise of saving taxpayers money. Getting rid of Mayor Welch is in YOUR best interest, so stop with the speeches about how you have been working to make the Citys dealings more transparent. You want to get Mayor Welch before he gets you. And you may even try to replace him during the April 2015 election. So, get on it Aldermen and stand up for the speakers who want to be heard during Monday nights City Council meeting. Dont just sit there and do nothing at all while Mayor Dwight Welch plays his latest game on outspoken residents. -- INFORMER (9-7-2014)
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 13:52:50 +0000
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