Emotions ran high between Guthrie Council members and several residents who requested to speak, but were denied, at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Their comments were denied because their issues were not on the Council meeting agenda.
Lisa New, founder of Helping Community Paws and Claws Inc., attempted to speak on her concerns about a previously proposed amendment to a city ordinance on how the city handles feral cats. She addressed the Council on several previous occasions on the matter.
She was denied, along with several other supporters, after Ward 3 Councilman Don Channel said the issue wasn’t on the Feb. 6 meeting agenda.
“There are about three things that involve talking to the Council,” Channel said. “If there is an item on our agenda, or if there is a community announcement for a festival, that type of thing, or an accomplishment that somebody has done or something like that. Those are the three things that are defined in our criteria for addressing the Council.
“At one time, we had an ordinance about the cats on the agenda, and she came and talked to us. She has been there two times since then. The criteria (on) hearing about the cats again does not match our criteria under what they can address the Council for. I would move that this is not a motion we need to hear due to the fact that it is not on our agenda. This is something I don’t feel we need to hear about again.”
Channel said if someone wants to address the City Council on an issue that is not on the agenda, residents should visit with the City Manager first about addressing the Council.
Phil Nichols, a local businessman, addressed the Council, saying he was disgusted with the Council’s actions not to let people speak.
“What I have seen here tonight is disgraceful,” he said.
Ward 2 Councilman Brian Bothroyd apologized to those residents that signed up to speak.
“I don’t believe in squelching anybody’s voice for anything,” he said. “They should have been able to talk.”
In other matters, the City Council did hear from Jamie Newton, President of the Guthrie Library Board, whose issue was on the Council agenda. She wants to see the Library Board included in the process to hire the next Director of Library Services.
“We are all dedicated to the Guthrie Library, and wholeheartedly believe the library is an integral part of the quality of life offered by the community,” Newton said. “We will continue to fully support any Director of Library Services who is employed by the City of Guthrie. While we understand the hiring sits solely with the City Manager, and the City Council can do nothing but listen, as citizens appointed by this mayor and approved by this council, we felt it was appropriate to express our disappointment here.”
The City Council also approved a Special Use Permit to allow for a five-unit Bed and Breakfast within the R-1 (Single Family Dwelling District) for a property located at 201 N. 13th Street.
The application was dis-
COUNCIL » PAGE 2 cussed and recommended for approval (3-0 vote) by the Planning Commission on Jan. 12, with the following conditions: 1. The bed and breakfast shall not exceed five (5) rental guest rooms and a total of 20 people at any given time. 2. Meals may be provided to registered guests, but no sale of meals to the public shall be allowed. 3. No cooking facilities shall be permitted in guest rooms. 4. No receptions, meetings, parties, etc. are allowed. 5. One non-internally illuminated monument sign is allowed, not to exceed 32 square feet in sign area and five feet in height.
The City Council also approved accepting a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Project Grant in the amount of $4,930. April 23-29 is designated as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
“We were one of 89 jurisdictions across the United States picked for this grant,” Police Chief Don Sweger said. “We plan to use the funding to assist with the annual Touch the Trucks event out at the high school.”