Confrontation becomes "rambling sermon " at Great Hangups meeting
COLUMBIA, 7/18/11 (Beat Byte) -- Silent for most of a
75-minute public meeting about the Great Hangups rezoning, City
of Columbia development services manager Pat Zenner spoke up, taking issue
with questions to city planner Steve MacIntyre. Zenner then took the floor for
nearly three minutes, scolding opponents and explaining city policy. During
what neighborhood residents and association members have called a "rambling
sermon," Zenner is visibly upset, his voice shaking and almost breaking several
times.
PATRICK ZENNER: "The elected officials took
action on their own accord to waive fees, which they, as the
elected officials of the city, have the right to do. We are not in a position
to waive requirements of our zoning ordinances.
"Mr. MacIntyre will look into whether or not your protest petition is still
valid. If it is not, your recourses are either to get the protest petition
filled out again, as un-convenient (sic) as that is for you. That is one
option. The other is, you can contact Council -- all of them -- and find out if
you can do a work around.
"We are not here to take your action against Council on our shoulders. We are the staff providing you with technical information associated with this case. We do not make policy decisions. We make recommendations for those who have to make policy decisions. We follow the rules that have been handed down to us to follow.
"We are not here to take your action against Council on our shoulders. We are the staff providing you with technical information associated with this case. We do not make policy decisions. We make recommendations for those who have to make policy decisions. We follow the rules that have been handed down to us to follow.
"Sarcasm in the meeting is not necessary. Ask a question
and move on. Mr. MacIntyre said he would follow up with Miss [city clerk
Sheela] Amin to find out what the rules are. He suggested to you to do that.
"It is not our responsibility to make your job any easier
if you want to protest something. We will work to try to make sure that your
concerns are expressed, but we are not here to either self serve the applicant
or the neighborhood. We are here to answer your questions and
prepare a report.
"Now, if you want to keep on task so we can finish the meeting, ask
your questions without the ad lib in it. Then we move on and let you
all go home and be able to discuss this in your neighborhood association
meeting.
"If you want to come protest the request, you're more than welcome to, but
protest the requirements of what our ordinances say. If Council wants to waive
them, that's their prerogative -- it's not up to us. Your behavior and
your resentment of the process should not be directed at us."
COOKIE HAGAN: "Sir, I don't believe I'm showing my anger
to you at all. I was talking to Steve MacIntyre, and Steve, if I in any way
offended you I want to apologize. But we do have concerns with regard to the
way the applicant was treated and the way we're being treated and we brought
that to Steve's attention. I didn't see Steve being nearly upset as
you, sir. You are very upset and I apologize for your anger, but these
meetings are for the public to address concerns on how our neighborhood is being
treated."
ZENNER: "State your concerns Ms. Hagan and move on and
we will finish the meeting. I am Steve's boss. Therefore, I have the
right to defend my staff if they're not going to for themself. State
your issue and let's move on to the next issue, please."
Who elected Zenner King?
ReplyDeleteObviously an "it ain't my [our] fault, so don't get mad at me [us]" sort of response - this suggests who they SHOULD get mad at. OTOH why "schedule a meeting" about a subject over which nobody who is there has responsibility or authority? Cynicism may be appropriate, but likely sarcasm simply gives ammo to those who would wish to ignore valid complaints
ReplyDelete