Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Former official Tim Kreischer contests Green Acres claims; commissioners enforce public-comment time limit
Summary
During public comment Tim Kreischer disputed criticism of his administration’s replacement of an ice rink with a library expansion and alleged the change did not violate Green Acres rules; commissioners and staff interrupted to enforce the three-minute limit and a commissioner replied that DEP approval to remove the rink had not been obtained.
Tim Kreischer took the public-microphone to respond to remarks made at a prior meeting, contesting allegations that replacing the city’s ice rink with a library expansion jeopardized Green Acres funding. Kreischer summarized the facility history, said the rink had been losing roughly $30,000 annually and urged that the library expansion served more residents and programs. He said the city secured more than $450,000 in state funding to expand the library and preserve cultural-space uses.
Commissioners and staff repeatedly reminded Kreischer of the three-minute public-comment limit. At one point a commissioner said on the record: "You didn't get DEP approval for the Green Acres to remove the rink," and the exchange turned confrontational before the moderator closed the public-comment period. Kreischer said he came prepared to respond on the record and complained that he had not been allowed time to rebut earlier comments.
The dispute remained on the record: Kreischer made several factual claims about past funding and administrative decisions; a commissioner disputed the Green Acres approval assertion. The commission invited any additional follow-up to take place outside the public-meeting timeframe and moved on to close public comment.
