Council for the Township of Brudenell Lyndoch and Raglan (BLR) met by teleconference on Wednesday August 5. Council amended the Procedural By-Law so that BLR Council could continue to meet via electronic means now that Ontario has cancelled the Emergency Orders. During the subsequent Council meeting, Clerk Michelle Mantifel asked for Council’s direction on options for future meetings and was explaining the rules for indoor gatherings when she was abruptly interrupted. An unidentified member of the public listening to the meeting broke in exclaiming, “Bullshit!” Mantifel had just said that indoor gatherings required both masks and social distancing. Relying on the fact that therapeutic treatments do not require social distancing, the caller insisted, “The six feet doesn’t really apply. I think you guys just don’t want to gather and earn your money.”
She continued on the offensive, with an attack on Mayor Sheldon Keller. “And Sheldon, you need to stop swaying people on their decisions. You are a tie-breaker. Your mouth should be shut when the Councillors …”
Trying to silence her, both Councillor Iris Kauffeldt and Keller asked the caller to mute her phone, but she adamantly refused: “I’m a taxpayer and I have a right to listen to these meetings but when they’re not done correctly there’s going to be more shit going.”
“And that’s your opinion, everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” observed Keller as he attempted to defuse the situation.
The caller snapped at him, “Well maybe if the councillors would speak up that know the rules, maybe things would be done properly.”
Keller replied, “I recall some of the rules are: you’re allowed to listen to the meetings but you’re not allowed to partake.”
The caller protested, “No, nobody ever is; even if they put in that they want to speak, nobody is allowed to. I know lots of people that put in to speak at meetings and never get to speak.”
Keller told her, “There’s nobody ever been denied.” At that point, the caller terminated the connection and the meeting resumed.
After considering various options and discussing how best to meet the needs for all participants, BLR Council decided to meet in person with staff in the municipal office starting in September. In order to accommodate taxpayers and to ensure safe physical distancing due to the lack of space in the Council chamber, the Township will continue to provide a teleconference facility so that members of the public can participate via telephone.
Out of the 3 papers that reported on this your version is the most factual with direct quotes and no spin. Thank you for your honest unbiased reporting.