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Residents press mayor, demand written guidance after civility warning
Summary
Multiple residents asked whether the mayor's July 13 warning about applause, eye-rolling and grimacing was an official council action and urged the council to publish clear, voted rules; Mayor Bass said the intent was to protect speakers, not limit speech.
Public commenters filled the town council meeting to press the mayor and council for clarity after an off-agenda July 13 warning that audience members who applauded, rolled their eyes or grimaced could be asked to leave.
Lisa Breeze, a New Milford resident, asked directly whether the mayor’s remarks were a council action: "Was the July 13 announcement and action of this Council? If it was, under what agenda item was it noticed to the public and when was it voted on?" She asked the council to record whatever explanation the town attorney provides in the minutes.
Other residents said the warning had chilled participation. Elizabeth Shabb told the council she could not guarantee she would never roll her eyes and asked for written rules: "If there are rules, please put them in writing, adopt them by vote, and post them so residents can read them before they walk in." Several speakers asked the mayor to obtain a written opinion from the town attorney before anyone is removed from a meeting under a rule that has not been reviewed.
Mayor Bass responded that his earlier comments were intended "to allow people to speak their minds" and to make speakers feel comfortable, not to curtail free speech. "It's not about limiting free speech," he told the council. He said he had raised the issue because several people reported being afraid to speak, and he framed the proposal as a way to ensure safety and civility at the podium.
Councilors voted during the meeting to begin formalizing several procedural clarifications (see separate coverage), and members agreed to circulate proposed changes that would codify how items are added to agendas and discourage council-wide email chains that can inadvertently create meetings.
The council set a town meeting for Aug. 24 to consider surplus appropriations and will take up the procedural changes at future meetings; residents who asked for the town attorney’s written opinion on the July 13 remarks asked that the record include any legal guidance.
