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Public commenters accuse board members of retaliation and another resident rebukes the claimant
Summary
During public comment, a speaker alleged two board members used official channels to suppress a prior speaker’s viewpoints; another resident countered that the accused speaker had intimidated others. The committee heard both claims and did not take immediate formal action.
During the committee’s public-comment period, a member of the public, David Young, alleged that two board members used official channels to retaliate against a prior public speaker and to rally others to speak against that individual.
Young cited emails he said referenced a draft "proclamation against hate speech" and said board members Mavis Bates and Chris Caius "contacted other board members and asked them to support her in her effort to censor someone for making more public comments." He asked the committee for a formal acknowledgement that Bates and Caius had acted in a way that discouraged a public speaker’s viewpoint and a commitment that such conduct "will not be repeated."
A second public commenter, Denise (identified as from Geneva), disputed Young’s characterization and said she had come to speak after him because she objected to his remarks. "It was hateful. It was bigoted, and was inappropriate as a public servant," she said about remarks she attributed to Young at prior meetings, and accused Young of "weaponiz[ing] his position" and repeatedly intimidating people who raised concerns.
The committee did not hold a hearing on the allegations or take formal disciplinary steps at the meeting. Chair acknowledged the comments and moved on to the next agenda item. The transcript does not record a formal investigatory referral; public-record requests or follow-up were not discussed on the record.
