Freedom of speech or lack of civility? Resident perturbed by others berating Killeen City Council and mayor – The Killeen Daily Herald

Bill Paquette is a staple at the Killeen City Council meetings. Nearly every Tuesday, he sits in the front row before the dais and listens to what happens in the council meeting. He said he has been doing this for 7 years.

Last week, the Killeen resident wrote a letter to the editor in the Herald praising the City Council and Mayor Debbie Nash-King for the job they were doing.

As far as Im concerned, our current City Council is the best Ive seen in the years that Ive attended meetings, wrote Paquette, at 65-year-old retiree.

But Paquette also decried some of what he perceived as individuals berating the council and mayor during the meetings.

Some national organizations, and the Killeen mayor, say harassment toward local government officials has increased in recent years.

Many local officials indicated an uptick in harassment, threats and violence over the course of their time in office, but this behavior has dramatically worsened since the start of the pandemic, according to a report from the National League of Cities. City officials find themselves having to walk a balance between freedom of speech and harassment.

Paquette said he has signed up to talk about this issue at Tuesdays council meeting, specifically mentioned Michael Fornino and former Councilwoman Mellisa Brown as being people who disrupt the council meeting.

But Brown and Fornino both believe they are simply exercising their freedom of speech and some council members appear to agree with them.

Paquette said he witnessed Fornino shouting at City Manager Kent Cagle from across the parking lot after a meeting a couple of weeks ago.

Totally uncalled for, Paquette said. If he was in school, he would be a school bully and thats what he was.

Fornino, who has sarcastically referred to council members as kings and queens, often verbally attacks Cagle during meetings. He has sent emails to the Herald saying he asked Cagle to meet with him and accusing the city manager of making a false accusation that he threatened his family.

Paquette said he had conversations with Fornino about his conduct during the meeting.

I told him when youre calm and collected and you address the council, you actually make a lot of sense, Paquette said.

He said Fornino told him that nobody would listen unless he talks like that.

Fornino played a big part in an incident involving former Councilman Ken Wilkerson in April after he connected the councilman to a shooting at Fort Cavazos. Moments later, during the meeting, Wilkerson left the dais and followed Fornino to the back of the legislative chamber and confronted him while police and others tried to keep them separated.

Wilkerson resigned weeks later for different reasons, he said,

Fornino, contacted last week, said it isnt wrong for him to get riled up during public comments.

Why shouldnt I get riled up? Its suddenly a crime or a sin to challenge government when they are clearly ... blatantly in the wrong? he said in an email Friday. Ive tried polite. Gets nowhere. Present information and evidence on things, and our Council does nothing. The fact that I dont simply comply and genuflect seems to upset the desired status quo.

He confirmed that he did yell things at Cagle a few weeks ago. He claims Cagle wont engage with him in an official context because of an alleged threat against his family members by Fornino something which Fornino strongly denies.

He said if the threat actually happened, the Killeen Police Department wouldve been involved.

He also mentioned an incident last month where he said Nash-King called over police to stand in front of the dais after Fornino started shouting at Councilman Jose Segarra, the mayor and Cagle.

Resident Michael Fornino is blocked by Killeen police after berating several council members, the mayor and the city manager at a recent meeting.

That same night, Fornino cursed at the council in Italian during a public comment portion of the meeting.

Fornino is adamant he has never crossed a line, and said all of his words to Killeen leaders have been within his free speech rights. However, there are limits, he said.

There are limits to free speech. If anyone got up at the podium calling for violence, destruction, etc. absolutely not allowed or covered by 1st Amendment. Everything else is protected under the 1st Amendment, which supersedes any little ordinance, rule, or memo hung on the fridge in the break room at City Hall, Fornino said.

Paquette also criticized Brown, who speaks during public comments at almost every council meeting.

Brown doesnt typically name call and is generally more reserved, but Paquette said she likes to hear the sound of her own voice and has no regard for anyone else.

And shes been removed not once but twice. She would say the last one doesnt count because shes allowed back in, Paquette said. They need to stay removed otherwise theyre not going to learn from their experience.

Brown was removed in May for shouting during the meeting. However, she was later allowed to return. She was arrested in 2018 for allegedly disrupting a meeting.

Brown, in an email to the Herald Thursday, acknowledged that she was arrested once and asked to leave a meeting another time. When she was arrested, she said the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence that she was disrupting the meeting.

In both cases I was questioning freedom of speech and special treatment toward some individuals and hostility toward others, Brown said.

Civil discourse is a part of the legislative process and is protected speech. Negative comments should be welcomed. If we only hear the positive, how do we improve? Brown said. People wouldnt be hostile if they didnt feel as though they were being silenced. When the government refuses to listen to the engaged, they end up getting the voices of the enraged.

She also said disruptive comments are a matter of perception, arguing that it could also be disruptive to hit the gavel and interrupt people while speaking.

If people are intimidated by words, perhaps they dont need to be in a public position where they should expect to be presented with criticism, opposing views, and negativity, Brown said. I dont think theres a current balance in freedom of speech and harassment. I think freedom of speech is being stifled, and any attempted intimidation is coming from the dais.

Gary Bubba Purser has been at the forefront of some exchanges during City Council meetings, especially ones that affect local developers, as he is one himself.

Purser has made negative comments toward the city staff and made perceived attempts to bully them regarding developer fees.

Gary "Bubba" Purser talks building inspection fees at Tuesday's council meeting.

We never paid these, Purser said at one meeting. And they couldnt tell me (what they were), and these are your engineering people along with your consultant.

But Paquette said he thinks Purser was mellow about it.

He said he believes Councilman Jose Segarra dispelled the notion of having a bias because of his real estate background when he refused, once, to allow Purser to have additional time at the podium.

Other times, however, Purser was allowed to continue to speak.

Purser, whose family has been building homes in Killeen for generations and has been closely linked to local government for decades, made it a point in at least one recent meeting that hes never contributed to the election campaigns of the current council.

During a public comment period of one meeting, he pointed at each council member, saying hes never given them money.

At another meeting, he left the podium laughing after the council failed to give me more than the allotted four minutes to speak on a subject.

Purser could not be reached for comment.

According to a 2021 report from the National League of Cities, 87% of surveyed local officials have seen increased harassment against local officials in the past few years while 81% of officials have themselves been targeted for harassment, threats or violence.

Personal attacks. Physical assaults. Cyberbullying directed at themselves their children and families all while having to manage multiple crises in their communities this is what it means to be a public servant in 2021, Clarence E. Anthony, NLC CEO and executive director, said in a news release. Its too easy to forget that our local leaders are also human. Along with their titles of mayor, councilmember, or commissioner they are also parent, friend, neighbor, and so much more.

Much of that harassment is occurring on social media, NLC said.

The Herald sent the following questions to the council and mayor to get their take on the behavior of Fornino, Brown and Purser at meetings:

Do you believe that some people speaking before the council are creating an intimidating environment?

Specifically, do you think the public comments during council meetings from Michael Fornino, Gary Purser Jr. and Mellisa Brown hurt or help local government in Killeen? Please explain.

Fornino and Purser have both been in public comment periods where they appeared to attack peoples character, either directly or indirectly. Do you see the same thing and what, if anything, can be done about it?

Do Forninos, Pursers and Browns constant conflicts with the council affect the image of Killeen? How so?

What is the balance between freedom of speech and harassment, bigotry etc.? When do you think the City Council should put its foot down?

Do you think Fornino, Purser and Brown with their actions, words and behavior at council meetings discourage others from participating in local government?

Here is how Killeens elected leaders answered:

Mayor Nash-King said in an email to the Herald that freedom of speech did not give citizens the right to harass, intimidate or create a threatening atmosphere during council meetings.

I can understand if a resident questions a council members voting record, the staff presentation, or the budget, but creating a toxic environment for residents attending the meeting by yelling, screaming, and disobeying the protocol to be escorted out of a council meeting for a political stunt is an embarrassment to the city, Nash-King said. This behavior also deters residents from attending council meetings and partnerships with potential businesses.

She said she and two council members have spoken with the city manager, legal and Police Chief Pedro Lopez on how to create a safer environment for individuals attending meetings because the attacks have escalated from the council chamber to social media outlets, emails, phone calls, and voicemails.

Councilman Riakos Adams acknowledged in an email that there were emotionally charged comments during council meetings that people might find intimidating.

However, its essential to remember the importance of preserving the democratic process and allowing all voices to be heard, Adams said. While I may not always agree with every comment made, I believe in the fundamental right of all our citizens to voice their opinions. The health of our local government in Killeen and everywhere else relies on diverse viewpoints and robust discussions. That said, a collaborative and respectful environment benefits the decision-making process and is supposed to foster trust among the community.

He said if there are comments that amount to personal attacks, they should be approached with an open-minded response and corrective measures if necessary.

Local government thrives on the participation of its residents. I would like to see more involvement, Adams said. It is a concern if any actions or words discourage people from engaging. We should always strive to ensure that council meetings are seen as inclusive and open to everyone, irrespective of their views. We should not allow anyone to monopolize discussions and make others feel their opinions are of no consequence or not heard.

Segarra said in an email that he does not believe that people speaking before the council necessarily brings about an intimidating environment.

This is because individuals often bring their unique interpretations and observations to the issues being discussed, and their level of passion for expressing their opinions may vary, Segarra said. This diversity in perspectives is actually a valuable aspect of council meetings, as it can lead to the emergence of different viewpoints and robust discussions.

He said depending on the types of comments, speakers can either have beneficial or detrimental effects on local government.

Its crucial to know that people can get very emotional when talking about certain topics. This understanding is important for keeping things open and democratic, Segarra said. To make sure theres a balance between free speech and respectful discussions, the city council lets people speak about agenda items. But they have to stick to the topic and not attack council members personally. If someone goes off-topic or breaks the rules, the mayor will give them a warning. If they keep doing it after the warning, they might be asked to leave the podium.

He said even though conflicts with speakers do have a negative effect on Killeens image, the important thing is how the city council responds.

The council is being observed by the same stakeholders looking to invest in our city, to see whether the council demonstrates the resilience to withstand the influence of individuals for the good of the city, Segarra said. The councils response and its ability to maintain a constructive and informed approach play a pivotal role in shaping the citys perception and, by extension, its attractiveness to those interested in its growth and development.

Councilman Joseph Solomon said in these instances, civility is important.

It involves treating each other with respect, even when we hold differing opinions or positions, he said. While disagreements are a natural part of the political process, it is important to express these differences in a respectful manner. No one in our meeting shouldnt be engaging in personal attacks. We must stay on the issues that are on the agenda. Respect is a two-way street. We must agree that we can disagree respectfully.

Other members of the council, including Michael Boyd, Nina Cobb, Jessica Gonzalez and Ramon Alvarez did not respond to the questions by deadline.

Paquette doesnt often speak during council meetings, but this week he will on this very topic.

The people who always expect the worst, if the tables would turn, would be doing the inappropriate things, he said.

He had a message for people speaking before the city council.

Enough is enough, you know. I know the council likes to hear feedback from the residents, but do it in a constructive manner. Be respectful, Paquette said.

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Freedom of speech or lack of civility? Resident perturbed by others berating Killeen City Council and mayor - The Killeen Daily Herald