A summer where the Lincoln City Council had boisterous residents and a room filled with signs.
Members passed an ordinance to allow them to reign in control.
“I strongly believe in the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. I also believe very strongly in the rest of the rights under our Constitution’s First Amendment,” Councilwoman Sondra Washington said Monday night. “With that said, I believe those rights can be exercised in the city council chambers in such a way that the business of council can proceed without chaos.”
The ordinance allows the chair person to remove someone who is causing a disturbance inside the chambers or in the lobby. It also allows someone at the podium have a sign.
At times this summer, council members admitted conduct of testifiers created a chaotic environment prompting the change.
However, Councilman James Michael Bowers believes it infringes on a person’s rights.
“Elected officials should be accessible and we need to be engaged in our community and we need to be receptive to the messages we’re hearing. Testimony is not the only way to get the message heard. There’s email, there’s phone calls and I do believe that signs are way to be heard,” he said.
The vote, 4-2, showed bipartisan support after Councilman Roy Christensen drafted it earlier this summer and Washington added an amendment. Councilwoman Tammy Ward, like Washington, was unsure on if she should support it, but considering its effect she voted in favor.
“Even this evening, we’ve had people shouting at us from the back instead of asking or coming forward or being acknowledged asking questions and it’s not appropriate,” Ward said.
“We’ve also been accused of not having control of our chambers and I think that’s correct.”