Scottville's Mayor Silences Citizen's Opposing Viewpoint

[XLFD]

It's been a while since the Ludington Torch has reported on the commission-elected position of mayor of Scottville; it was a little over seven years ago when a very drunk ex-mayor named Joe Baxter drove his car into one of Scottville's gullies at around the same time Scottville's children were walking to school.  And unless he metabolized alcohol more slowly than anybody else ever has, he then lied to the police about what led up to that undistinguished moment.

                              Bruce Krieger, taking the Oath of Office as City Commissioner/Mayor

Since then, the position has got less melodramatic, until last night when the mayor looks to have decided to forego a major tenet of the Open Meetings Act (OMA) to silence an otherwise solid Scottville citizen's right to address the city commission over a public policy issue.  The current mayor, Bruce Krieger, first served as mayor back in the 1970s, possibly even pre-dating the OMA before retiring for awhile preceding a comeback this last decade.  He has decades under his belt of experience in public meetings, Scottville commission meetings have generally allowed the public to speak without issue, and less formally than they do in Ludington.  

But at last night's meeting, it wasn't the case.  We find that the local newspaper reported:

"SCOTTVILLE — Tensions were high at Scottville City Hall Monday... During the public comment period of Monday’s city commission meeting, Roy and Linda Holden, co-owners of Holden’s Home Emporium, inquired about a letter they had submitted to the commission about the potential economic and health benefits of allowing a medical marijuana dispensary to operate within the city limits. In the letter, it was suggested that the city form an ad hoc committee to further explore the issue.  Commissioners confirmed they had received the letter, but none of the commissioners wished to share a comment, and, as a result, there was no discussion.

During the public comment period, Linda Holden asked if the letter could be read, or if she could read the letter to the commission and members of the public “so people know what it says.”
Mayor Bruce Krieger said she could not use her time in this way, and suggested that she read it after the meeting was adjourned.
Roy Holden asked City Attorney Tracy Thompson if it was legal for Krieger to dictate how the allotted 3-minute period of public comment can be used.
“I am not going to answer that, Roy,” Thompson responded.

Others spoke up, including Jake Muzzo, who touched on points from the letter, among other issues.
“Since unfortunately the Holdens haven’t been able to speak their opinion, I would like to speak for them — and for about 750 other people in Mason County — by stating that I think the City of Scottville should seriously consider allowing marijuana establishments within the city limits,” Muzzo said. “It would be good for the city in terms of business and generating tax revenue…"

Muzzo would later take up the issue about whether the mayor was out of line for trying to pick and choose what could be discussed during the public comment period in the Mason County Marijuana Advocates group, where Deb Del Zoppo divulged the content of the letter that Linda Holden wanted to share, a letter which each commissioner received and knew the contents of, and which Del Zoppo claimed credit for writing:

"To Scottville City Commissioners: The train is leaving the station. Medical marijuana is legal. The positive benefits of THC or [cannabinoid] oils to halt and/or reverse symptoms ranging from seizures to PTSD are irrefutable. These benefits are obtained not by getting “high” but by ingesting a legal medical substance in various forms.
Does law enforcement need to refine their methods for identifying impairment from this medical drug? Likely. So too, methods of identifying medical miracles will likely be discovered as the use of medical marijuana becomes more prevalent. We know [cannabinoids] control seizures. Does medical marijuana boost the immune system? Does it control tumors? These are questions for medical professionals.
The question for the City of Scottville is the question of allowing a legal, certified, state-regulated business to open its doors in the city and join the tax rolls. How would the city feel if Grand Traverse Distillery wanted to open a distillery in the city? I imagine the city would be thrilled with a new taxable member of the business community. To have a business associated with medicine is, in my opinion, a bonus.
Scottville is struggling for its very existence. Scottville still has a chance to get on the train. Does it reach for the caboose, or find itself struggling to catch up using a handcar and hoping for a tailwind?
Be engineers. Get on the train before it rolls out of sight."

The points in the letter express an opinion, one can agree with them or not, and definitely has Ms. Del Zoppo's writing style in evidence.  Presumably, Mayor Krieger had received the letter, read it, and knew what it was all about.  It was clear the letter was directly expressing an opinion about the City of Scottville's public policy and lacked any kind of irrelevance, vulgarity, call to violence, etc. that might make it inappropriate to not be read during the public comment portion of a meeting.  Krieger has voted and voiced his opposition against the issue of dispensaries in the city in the past.

                 Linda Holden works diligently on store displays at one of the family's downtown Scottville businesses  

Roy and Linda Holden are responsible, community-minded, prominent business owners in the community, a couple that has a ton of loyalty to the town.  When the mayor suppresses their voice at a public meeting, it suggests that everyone of lesser status in the city would get the same treatment, perhaps worse.  Scottville's mayor has few responsibilities other than being the chairman at commission meetings, but in that duty, he seems to have deprived Linda Holden of her right, under Michigan's OMA, to address the commission on a matter of public policy.  

After the meeting was adjourned, Deb Del Zoppo was given the opportunity to read her letter aloud to the commissioners.   It is reported that Mayor Krieger left the premises quickly and slammed the door on his way out.  

[Willy]

Every citizen has the right to express their opinion especially on local issues that can be controversial. It seems that the mayor and attorney were on the wrong side of the law in this incident no matter what the issue is. They are probably thinking, who in the small town of Scottville will be patronizing the weed stores other than those who want to scramble their brains. The other products of Marijuana that do not require smoking can be sold anywhere because, as I understand, the active ingredients that causes a high are not included in those by products. Legally speaking though, the Mayor should not be in his position if he intends to deny citizens their rights. I'm guessing Scottville is not the only community fighting over this issue.

[XLFD]

The city commission has the duty to figure out how to handle what to do with medical and recreational marijuana and dispensaries, and they appear willing to ignore the will of the voters in both 2008 and 2018 because they believe in their hearts and/or heads that such businesses would be bad for Scottville.

I can respect that, respect the arguments on the other side, and I'm wary on wading into the issue without Scottville citizenship under my belt.  But we should all be in agreement, citizens and all others, that this was at the least a breakdown in parliamentary procedure counter to democratic and republican principles that should be respected by all officials and demanded by the public. 

[stump]

  Well I can see a opening coming up in the city of Scottville with 2 viable people to fill the opening.  I would think that anyone in Scottville would be thankful to Roy and Linda Holden for keeping there town together. If it weren't for them there wouldn't be any reason to go to town.

[woodsman]

Gee there is picture of Krieger taking the Oath of Office. Must have forgot he promised to uphold the City Laws,  State Laws,  and US Constitution .. How soon he turned it into a do as I say is the only rule followed.  The other commissioners all took the same oath and what did they have to say about the above.....       ......That is right nothing

[XLFD]

There's a disturbing trend in Scottville politics that resembles some of the realpolitik that was strongest in Ludington towards the end of Mayor Henderson's regime in 2013.  There are core beliefs in a majority of the councilors that prevent any meaningful discussion or disagreement, which is why concerned commissioners like Petipren and Hahn found it ultimately frustrating to serve their city.  Core beliefs can be a good thing to have, but if you're supposed to be representing the will of the people that elected you, they can interfere with your core duties.

[Willy]

I agree all sides should have their say and the Mayor must let them speak, however the legalizing of marijuana also gave cities the right to deny it's sale inside their jurisdiction. Just because it's legal doesn't mean citizens who appose it must have it sold in their town. Like Scottvile citizens who were divided as to the passing of the law can have it both ways. It's legal to possess but if they don't want it sold in town then that's the way it is.  It's funny that the citizens who wanted this drug legalize are out whining that they want it sold in town even though the law gives cities the right to opt out. Like a lot of drug dependent people they will not stop until heroin is legalized and can be purchased at your local grocery store. Those that do not want marijuana sold in town are concerned that it can now be made more easily accessible to kids. I don't like the new law but it passed so I'm not complaining because the people spoke, but, I certainly don't want it sold in towns that choose not to. The excuse that it's going to be a big money raiser is just bunk. Anything that can be grown all year round in your home is not going to have much value on the street. This is just another excuse for the brain dead to legally kill off any of their remaining brain cells.