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Residents raise concerns about mayor's lawsuit and recurring protests; commission weighs options
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Summary
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to criticize Mayor Lisonbee Dennington's recent lawsuit and trial handling, to call for rules on recurring protest activity and for county library parking enforcement; the mayor defended her actions and commissioners discussed legal options for time, place and manner restrictions.
Several speakers used the April 15 public-comment period to raise concerns about a lawsuit involving Mayor Lisonbee Dennington and to urge the town to consider rules addressing recurring protests and parking at a busy corner near the library.
Joyce Barton, who said she attended the trial that began April 8, urged residents to attend a May 20 continuation and criticized the mayor's mediation efforts, saying, "All indications suggest that the mayor had no intention of true mediation." Barton also noted that the mayor sat in the audience while her husband, she said, joined counsel at the front of the courtroom.
Mayor Lisonbee Dennington responded during the meeting, disputing some statements and calling others inaccurate. "You're clearly not an attorney. And you've stated false facts on that," the mayor said when disputing a claim related to protection orders raised during public comment.
Separately, Jan Pence asked the commission to direct the town attorney to explore an ordinance to require groups that regularly protest to obtain permits, liability insurance and possibly a fee, and requested action to prevent non-library visitors from parking in county library spaces. Town Attorney Ryan Knight said permits and time/place/manner restrictions can apply when protests block traffic or use amplified sound, while library parking enforcement would require cooperation with the county sheriff and the library because the lot is county property.
Commissioners discussed the balance between free-speech rights and public-safety or parking concerns. No ordinance was proposed or adopted at the meeting; the town attorney said he would research options and report back if the commission directs him to do so.
