ARE OUR MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS A LITTLE TOO FULL OF THEMSELVES?

In The Alternative Are They a Little Too Willing To Impose Sanctions That They Do Not Have The Authority To Do?


Today`s Waterloo Region Record carries the following article tiled `Fake snake gets Cambridge man banned`. Allan Dettweiler, a man in his 70s using a walker has been banned from Cambridge city hall and all municipal premises for a year for attending a council meeting last month with a wooden snake wrapped around his neck. On the face of it that seems to be an extreme reaction to what appears to be a simple non-violent, non audible protest. That being said yes Mr. Dettweiler has protested before including a brief verbal outburst from the gallery last January which earned him a three month ban. Prior to that he placed ``Ditch Donna"cards on chairs in council chambers urging voters to unseat incumbent councillor Donna Reid. That got him a one month ban. I would suggest that perhaps Mr. Dettweiler`s failure was in obeying the first two bans which has emboldened council.

That however may also be part of the problem. Did Cambridge council actually agree and vote as a group to ban Mr. Dettweiler or is this as stated in the article a decision made by city clerk Michael Di Lullo and mayor Katherine McGarry? While limits on the public`s behaviour may be necessary I really don`t think any of these actions by Mr. Dettweiler cry out for anything even close to a one year ban and certainly not one imposed by the dubious authority of a municipal council or less.

Up here in Woolwich Township I`ve seen far worse behaviour by elected councillors far in contravention of their own written policies and nothing ever happens to them. Perhaps Cambridge council might want to have a serious talk with the Waterloo Regional Police in regards to the legality of their banning a citizen from public municipal buildings and functions. Short of a court conviction on some sort of disturbing the peace charge or something similar I really doubt that municipal councils can unilaterally ban anyone. They of course can call the police after threats or violence but simple minor protest is not only the right of citizens I believe it is their duty as well.