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Public commenter accuses Independence council of public shaming, questions use of city-paid legal opinion
Summary
At the May 5 Independence City Council meeting, longtime public commenter Lee Phillips urged the council to stop shaming residents who engage remotely, said a city-paid legal opinion was used to discredit his conflict-of-interest concern, and called for greater transparency and respect.
Lee Phillips, a frequent speaker at Independence City Council meetings, told the council on May 5 that recent remarks from the dais have amounted to “soft bullying” and public shaming of citizens who participate remotely or who do not remain seated in the chamber until the final gavel.
“I show up. I speak during public comment, the only time the rules allow,” Phillips said. “Watching the meeting from home via City 7 is participation. Submitting records requests is participation. Digging into city budgets, reading audit documents, and speaking truth to power, that is participation.”
Phillips said he records and transcribes meetings and attends public sessions…
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