The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield was famous for his stand-up shtick that he didn’t “get no respect.” That was much of the theme among residents who addressed the Graham city council during the allocated time for public comments at the end of the council’s March meeting Tuesday night.
While the city council had decided to scrap its originally-proposed 30-minute time limit and modified its 50 percent cut in individual time (from four minutes to three, instead of two) earlier in the meeting, both of which would apply to future meetings, several residents were still upset by the council’s attitude when they got a chance to speak at the end of Tuesday night’s meeting.
Much of the comments alternated between wanting to keep the Sesquicentennial Park at its current location and criticism of the council’s refusal to listen to its citizens and their preferences on that or other issues.
“The citizens of Graham are utterly disgusted by the way some of the members of this body express their dislike for us, the public. The comments from the dais amount to ‘let ‘em wait. Our business is more important than anything the citizens have to say.’
“It’s painfully obvious that the majority of this council has other agendas. . . They cannot even contain the disdain they have for the public. . .
“Your hubris and condescension are truly astounding.
– Graham resident Eric Crissman
“The citizens of Graham are utterly disgusted by the way some of the members of this body express their dislike for us, the public,” began Eric Crissman. “The comments from the dais amount to ‘let ‘em wait. Our business is more important than anything the citizens have to say.’
“It’s painfully obvious that the majority of this council has other agendas. . . They cannot even contain the disdain they have for the public. . .
“Your hubris and condescension are truly astounding,” Crissman continued before concluding with a call for the three council members supporting the park move – mayor pro tem Ricky Hall and council members Bobby Chin and Bonnie Whitaker – to resign.
“If the council was listening to the public, the public comments portion wouldn’t take so long.
“I don’t feel like three of you [who supported the relocation of the park] are listening to the public”
– Graham resident and retired businessman Paul Keller
During his time at the podium, retired Graham businessman Paul Keller said, “If the council was listening to the public, the public comments portion wouldn’t take so long.
“I don’t feel like three of you [who supported the relocation of the park] are listening to the public,” Keller said.
Keller noted that some council members expressed all sorts of concerns with the cost of repairing the park, but there seems to be a “blank check with regard to moving the park.”
Jeff Benes was critical of the reduced time for speakers. Tuesday night, residents were allowed to speak for four minutes, based on the existing public comment rules.
“I would think the city council would like to hear from the citizens. . . The very least the city council could do would be to show the same interest that the citizens have [by coming to the meetings].
“’Respect for citizen input’ was another candidate pledge, but I haven’t seen that in the last couple of months.”
“[Another characteristic from campaign pledges] was a dedication to having a ‘welcome and safe environment’ [at city council meetings]. I don’t feel that when I come. It’s more combative.”
– Graham resident Jeff Benes
“I would think the city council would like to hear from the citizens. . . The very least the city council could do would be to show the same interest that the citizens have [by coming to the meetings].”
Without identifying any specific candidates or current council members, Benes said candidates for council had talked about transparency, being accessible and accountable, and reflective of the citizens it represents.
“Respect for citizen input” was another candidate pledge, Benes highlighted, “but I haven’t seen that in the last couple of months.”
Another characteristic from campaign pledges, Benes said, was a “dedication to having a ‘welcome and safe environment’ [at city council meetings]. I don’t feel that when I come. It’s more combative.”
“Do you honor us? It seems like there is no honor here. . . It just seems like you’ve just made stuff up to move the park.”
[As he was speaking, Cohoon pointed to council member Bonnie Whitaker who he said was “making faces” during his comments.] “Do you honor me?”
[Whitaker attempted to interrupt Cohoon’s assertion about “making things up,” but MAYOR CHELSEA Dickey overruled her, saying it was Cohoon’s time to speak.]
Sam Cohoon also hit on the theme of whether the council actually listened to citizens. “Do you honor us? It seems like there is no honor here. . . It just seems like you’ve just made stuff up to move the park.”
As he was speaking, Cohoon pointed to council member Bonnie Whitaker who he said was “making faces” during his comments. “Do you honor me?”
Whitaker attempted to interrupt Cohoon’s assertion about “making things up,” but Dickey overruled her, saying it was Cohoon’s time to speak.
Among other topics raised during the public comments portion of the meeting were the need to address the remaining portion of the Culp Mill plant on Parker Street, ravaged several times by fire, raised by Ronnie Isley, as well as the unsightly appearance of the former Econo-Lodge, termed a “murder motel” by Jill Bullis, at NC 54 and the interstate.
The 11 speakers during the public comments period ultimately spoke for about 35 minutes, which would have exceeded the proposed 30-minute limit that the council had decided against imposing.
The council also reopened the public comment period for what ended up being about another 10 minutes later when former mayor Jennifer Talley attempted to speak from the audience when the council comments turned to the issue of whether to restore benches to the downtown area. [See separate story in this edition.]
Cohoon returned to admonish the council that it had taken more time to talk about whether to restore benches than it had about the relocation of the park and the design plans adopted by the council.
Former councilman Jim Albright raised the question of whether the council would have allowed others to speak if the former mayor had not sought recognition which had prompted Chin to move to re-open the public comments portion of the meeting.
Albright also accused council members of “talking down” to citizens at their meetings.
Albright also noted what he considered the irony that citizens have a time limit when they seek to address the council, but council members have no time limit on how long they can speak on any topic, or in their miscellaneous comments at the end of the meeting.
Eric Crissman also returned to address both the benches, as well as the council’s decorum.
“I get the distinct impression that ya’ll don’t respect us,” he said.
“Look at the way you guys are dressed. . . You should dress like you respect us.” Crissman singled out Young who was wearing a tee shirt with “Whiskey and Bad Decisions.”
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