Resident Robert Baumgartner accuses council of using new public-comment rules to curb criticism

Robert Baumgartner, a North Ridgeville resident, told the City Council on May 4 that recent changes to the city's public-comment rules amount to an attempt to silence critics.

Baumgartner, who gave his address as 6327 Stoney Ridge Road, said the council's revision to what he described as "Section 26" institutes a subjective requirement for a courteous tone and empowers the presiding officer to cut a microphone. "You cannot mandate politeness to shield yourselves from accountability," he said.

The comment came during the council's regular lobby session, which the council president opened and limited to three minutes per speaker. Councilman Winkle moved to give Baumgartner an additional three minutes; the motion was seconded and approved by the council, after which Baumgartner finished his remarks.

Baumgartner criticized the mayor and council for what he called a pattern of evasiveness and said a past mayoral remark that he did not have to keep promises showed a lack of accountability. He told the council that recent policy changes were drafted to manage his presentations at the podium and framed the revision as a First Amendment concern. "When the truth becomes optional, corruption becomes inevitable," he said.

Council President closed the lobby session after Baumgartner's remarks. No council action was taken on the public-comment rule during the meeting; Baumgartner specifically acknowledged Councilwoman Zingali as the only member who had earlier cast a lone no vote on the changes, noting her dissent in his remarks.

The meeting record shows the council received Baumgartner's written submission and allowed him extra time; the council took no procedural vote to change public-comment rules at this session, and no staff presentation or ordinance amending Section 26 was before the body for adoption.