Woodstock resident protests permit requirement for small gatherings, calls ordinance censorship

A Woodstock resident urged the City Council on June 9 to change a local ordinance that he said requires a permit — and payment for off‑duty police — for small public gatherings.

Ken Stillings spoke during the public‑comment portion as a volunteer with Indivisible Woodstock. He said the group had purchased a permit and paid for off‑duty officers for a planned demonstration and that the permit and security costs imposed a financial barrier. “When you have an ordinance where more than 3 people aren't allowed to be on a corner speaking their truth without a permit, that's not really about keeping things safe and in control, that's about ownership,” Stillings said. “We're asking that you fix the ordinance, raise the threshold of the amount of people. It's censorship.”

Stillings said the group was not trying to disrupt the city and had paid both the $150 permit fee and roughly $260 for off‑duty officers to provide safety. “We followed the rules, we paid all the permits,” he said, and invited councilmembers and others to attend the demonstration.

Council did not take formal action in response to the comment during the meeting. Mayor Michael Caldwell later acknowledged public comment procedures and noted council members had opportunity to respond during their comment period; several councilmembers later reiterated the importance of public safety measures tied to permitting.

Why it matters: public‑assembly permitting and requirements for security and costs can affect whether civic groups can hold demonstrations; council may consider whether existing thresholds and fees are appropriate.