Resident praises bylaw changes and accuses councilman of prior support for restrictions

Robert Baumgartner, a North Ridgeville resident, used the public-comment portion of the Committee of the Whole meeting to praise the council’s draft revision to Section 26 of the bylaws and to criticize earlier restrictions he said had protected officials from scrutiny.

Baumgartner, who identified himself as living at 6327 Stoney Ridge Road, said he appreciated that "the removal of the subjective policing of a speaker's tone" and the explicit statement that nothing in Section 26 "shall be interpreted...to prohibit criticism of city officials." He added that freedom of speech is foundational and said the previous iteration of the bylaws had the effect of insulating elected officials from tough questions.

Baumgartner specifically accused a Ward 3 councilman of having supported the original restricted bylaws and of mocking residents who raised concerns. He said that when he raised a question about enforcement he was told to 'review my performances,' and that he would continue to press on issues such as city financials and withheld public records. His remarks were delivered during the committee's public comment period and received no formal rebuttal from the named councilman in the record.

The committee subsequently moved and adopted the clerk’s replacement language for the bylaws. Baumgartner said he will continue to ask questions at future meetings now that the draft language makes clearer protections for criticism of officials.