Millinocket council chairman shuts out public comment

MILLINOCKET – Council chair Don McLaughlin created a stir Thursday night after deciding not to allow public comment at the end of the two-and-a-half hour council meeting.

Among those looking to speak were a group supporting a citizen-led initiative for a November referendum to reduce the property tax rate from $19.40 to $17 per $1,000 of valuation. Katahdin Times editor Aaron Miller said he also wished to address allegations by Councilor Avern Danforth that an article with Miller’s name on it contained irregularities.

When all the other business had concluded at roughly 6 p.m., McLaughlin announced there wouldn’t be a public comment period and took a vote to adjourn. He talked to some audience members who were adamant about having a chance to speak and he left less than a minute later. Under council procedures, McLaughlin had the right as chair to not entertain public comment, according to Town Manager Gene Conlogue.

Those supporting the initiative to lower the tax rate submitted their petition with 453 signatures on Tuesday, Conlogue said. To be valid, the petition needed 20 percent of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial election, or 495 signatures, to make it into a local November referendum. The petition failed to qualify for ballot consideration, and some of those in attendance, including resident Charlie Cirame, felt it was unethical for people not to have a chance to speak.

“Being shut out from speaking on these issues, I felt, was really insulting to the public,” Cirame said after the meeting. “Our First Amendment was spat at tonight.”

Earlier in the meeting, Danforth spoke about the Times’ recent criticism of the councilors meeting in the town manager’s office prior to council meetings to look over warrants. Danforth said the council never attempted to hide anything from the public and that Miller should put his energy toward helping unite the community rather than dividing it.

“We don’t need anyone to stir up unnecessary trouble,” Danforth said.

Danforth also alleged that Miller attached his credit to an article on regionalization by Maine Municipal Association attorney Jim Katsiaficas in the Aug. 5 edition of the Times without actually contributing to it.

“I would suggest to Mr. Miller that he needs to clean up his own act before going after other people,” Danforth said.

In a telephone interview following the meeting, Miller admitted he hadn’t contributed to the article and said he had made a mistake in printing his credit. Miller said he intended to tell the council he had made a mistake. He also said he felt blindsided by Danforth’s comments when there had been no indication on the agenda that his decisions as editor of the Times would be discussed.

“I’m disappointed I wasn’t given a chance to defend myself at the meeting,” Miller said. “My guess is that they didn’t want to hear it. Quite frankly, I’m ashamed this was taken up in public session and wasn’t discussed with David Henley, publisher of the newspaper.”