Broken Promises: MAKING IT HAPPEN
- “Encourage Council participation during meetings, stop retaliation against council members or citizens who express different opinions.”
Under Bassett, the town has seen the most restricted public comment policies in Edgewood’s history. He even imposes a countdown clock and cuts speakers off at 3 minutes and for a while would not even allow people to yield their time to another speaker (as is common under Robert’s Rules of Order).
Bassett routinely interrupts and calls for adjournment while two particular elected councilors are speaking. Bassett routinely berates members of the community who come forward to express their own opinions when they differ from the mayor’s opinions. Read: “Public Speaks Against Treatment of Councilor” (The Independent, 1-18-19) and “Edgewood: Lead By Example” (The Independent, Editorial 12-6-19)
WATCH: “Councilor Supports Councilor” (town recording from January 9, 2019 Council Meeting). Leota Harriman (The Independent) referenced Councilor Audrey Jaramillo in a January 2020 piece in The Independent. This recording is Councilor Jaramillo’s speech from the Town website. I think she did a good job restoring balance and decorum to the governing body after a contentious discussion.
