We, the undersigned Administrative Managers of the Citv of Racine wish to go on record as formally objecting to the Airing of unfounded, public personal attacks on City officials and employees during
"public comment period" of the Common Council. Specifically, on Tuesday, March 5,20t9, an individual named Harry Wait, who provided his address as Union Grove, Wisconsin, appeared before the Common Council during "public Comment" and proceeded to publicly and personally attack City Attorney Scott Letteney, as well as Mayor Cory Mason, and, by position reference Human Resources director Tim Thompkins, with unfounded claims and outrights lies in a manner and using terms explicitly designed to personally disparage and impugn the character and integrity of said employees and officials. At the same meeting, Patrick Fagan, with an address in Mount Pleasant, as well as Ken Yorgan also made personal attacks directed at City Attorney Letteney. Prior to each public comment period of each Common Council session, the City Clerk's office reads
a
preamble statement expressly directing speakers to, "refrain from profane remarks, disruptive outbursts, personal attacks. directed at other speakers, or public officials or emolovees or other conduct which interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting". Mr. Wait's comments were clearly in violation of said directions and he should have been immediately gaveled "out of orde/' and admonished to refrain from such statements and tactics. lf he were to continue, he should then have been told to leave the podium and the microphone could then be turned off. We ask that the Mayor, or any then-presiding officer not allow or tolerate such statements or behaviors to be repeated. That such personal attacks and proactively disruptive behavior not be tolerated or allowed. The City of Racine should stand up for civility, decency, compassion, empathy and tolerance. There should be no place in the people's chambers for such misplaced attacks and vitriol.
Sincerely:
\$\5T(4
\^a^\ txr-.u,^
\lt( D
L;L' Q^,u.^r-D^['rl1" ^, i r"s.r-lo-r ) t/
\
tL" tt-A,ilrrf
IfiA t
oY /4r\^/
tSf.a.rJ*X
of Pzra/rc
Vt/ar(ks