Courtesy of the Floor Change in Yorktown Sparks Backlash
A call for civility during the courtesy of the floor portion of Yorktown Town Board meetings lasted less than five minutes last week.
Supervisor Michael Grace was forced to abruptly end the meeting after a resident in the back of the room at Town Hall refused to stop shouting out while another resident, Paul Moskowitz, was expressing his displeasure over the decision of the Town Board to only have one opportunity for residents to speak at the end of the agenda.
Tom Pomposello, Jr. later apologized for his outburst after the meeting resumed.
“It becomes frustrating as you sit here as a resident of over 40 years to see through someone’s demeanor as they just badger the elected officials and the way they talk about elected officials,” Pomposello said. “The town is moving forward and it seems certain people just want to keep the town down.”
Moskowitz had sarcastically suggested that the Town Board hold two courtesy of the floor segments, reserving the first opportunity to speak to friends and supporters of the board, and the second to everyone else.
“To imply that we should have two courtesy of the floors, one for our friends and one for our enemies, doesn’t add to the civility,” Grace remarked. “It’s inappropriate for someone to yell out. We don’t have to have courtesy of the floor. Nobody is shutting out public input whatsoever. We cherish both your praise and your criticism. We’re trying to set a tone of decorum that has been absent.”
Councilman Greg Bernard echoed Grace’s sentiments, saying, “This Town Board and town government has been held hostage for three years because of this type of rancor. We’re trying to do the right thing, but some people feel the campaign isn’t over or it’s getting started. It becomes frustrating. It’s the same people coming up here trying to challenge us on innuendo. It’s not at all to try to limit public comment.”
However, several residents maintained it was unfair not to allow public comment on agenda items until after the board already took action on those items, and scoffed at the board’s contention that each member could always be reached by phone or email.
“Don’t you want to hear what people have to say in the community?” resident Jennie Sunshine said. “Being part of the system, that’s how things are supposed to work.”
“It’s a shame the behavior of a few have to spoil it for the majority,” said resident Mary Ann Curtin.
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