Resident urges Sedalia council to repeal Ordinance 12255, says it censors criticism
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Summary
Debbie Covington told the Sedalia City Council that Ordinance 12255, passed April 21, restricts constitutionally protected speech by banning criticism of city employees and urged repeal; council provided no recorded response in the meeting transcript.
During the Good and Welfare public-comment period on Nov. 3, resident Debbie Covington addressed the Sedalia City Council and strongly criticized Ordinance 12255, which she said was passed April 21 "without a public hearing or dialogue."
Covington said the ordinance "censors dissent" and "bans criticizing city employees by name," and argued those limits violate the First Amendment and Article I, Section 8 of the Missouri Constitution. "You are breaking the law," she told the council, and she urged repeal of the ordinance, an apology to the community and more open dialogue.
Covington also criticized the city's outside counsel (identified in her remarks as 'Lawler'), saying the firm is directing the mayor and council to implement policies that, in her view, curtail public speech. The transcript does not record any council response to Covington's remarks during the meeting.
Her statements are framed in the meeting record as citizen comments and an appeal to elected officials; the transcript shows no formal action, rebuttal, or legal analysis recorded at the Nov. 3 session.