Residents criticize council’s handling of special‑call meeting and Planning Commission removal

Several public commenters used the meeting’s public‑comment period to criticize recent council actions, particularly a special‑call meeting that advanced a rules/resolution on investigative hearings and the removal of Dale Green from the Planning Commission.

Public commenter Caesar said the investigative‑hearing resolution had been delivered to council members on short notice before a Monday special‑call meeting and that two members asked for more time to consult lawyers but were not allowed to table the item. Caesar said that the action and rapid vote were a ‘‘slap in the face’’ to members who requested more time and argued the council had already decided how it would vote.

Another commenter thanked the council for dropping lawsuits but noted taxpayers had borne roughly $100,000 in legal costs and asked what the community had gained. During later comments, residents criticized the council’s removal of Dale Green from the Planning Commission without a public explanation and called the action ‘‘vindictive’’ and harmful to public trust. The meeting grew heated; the presiding officer reminded attendees of meeting decorum before moving on.

Council did not make any personnel decisions during public comment; the comments were recorded and the council adjourned after the public‑comment period.