Letter to the Editor
Dear Mayor Randall and City Council Members,
I am writing to formally express my concern regarding how my public comments were handled at tonight’s City Council meeting (Jan. 6). As a resident of Clinton and co-owner of The Lumberyard, I came prepared to ask important questions regarding the Economic Development Funds. However, I was cut off before my allotted two minutes were up, preventing me from completing my statement.
I find it particularly troubling that the individual who spoke before me was allowed to continue for nearly five minutes—well past the two-minute limit—while I was abruptly dismissed and directed to make an appointment with the City Manager, who is leaving at the end of the month. This inconsistent enforcement of the time limit raises concerns about fairness, and I can’t help but question whether my dismissal was influenced not only by the nature of my questions but also by the fact that I am a woman presenting hard facts.
Had I been allowed to finish my statement, it would have been clear that I was not expecting a response during the meeting. My intent was simply to ensure that my questions and concerns were publicly stated and acknowledged by the Council. Public comment is an essential part of civic engagement, and all residents should be given the same opportunity to address their elected officials without bias or premature dismissal.
I hope this matter will be acknowledged and that moving forward, public input will be handled with fairness and consistency. I would appreciate a response regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Stacey Michaels, MA, BCBA
NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist
Certified Health Specialist
