Public raises decorum concerns; commissioners ask ethics committee to review recorded gesture

During public comment on Aug. 7, Louise Lynch said a YouTube video of the commission showed a commissioner making vulgar hand gestures while another commissioner was speaking and urged the commission to restore decorum.

Lynch said the gesture occurred around hour five and 15 minutes of a prior meeting and asked commissioners to view the tape and take action if they found the conduct unacceptable. “We cannot continue this. Please, please, for this community, bring decorum and human decency back,” Lynch said.

Commissioner King asked the ethics committee to review the clip; Commissioner Davis later said he planned to file an ethics complaint. The mayor said he had received an email about the video and that the topic would be examined. No formal vote or disciplinary action was taken at the meeting; commissioners asked the ethics committee and staff to review the video and advise on next steps.

Ending: The commission directed internal review by the ethics committee; any formal disciplinary action would follow committee findings and any applicable procedures.