Portage council meeting ends in 'chaotic mess'
NWI Times
June 07, 2017
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/portage-council-meeting-ends-in-chaotic-mess/article_147c7439-c87d-5db9-8e91-ce6d6f3fd0e3.html
PORTAGE — City officials said Wednesday they will move forward following a City Council meeting the previous night that ended in an abrupt adjournment and a confrontation between the mayor and a council member.
"It was a chaotic mess and unprofessional on everyone's side," City Council President Mark Oprisko, D-at large, said Wednesday. "I felt bad that it went on."
Near the end of the meeting, council members began to talk about the continuing, and sometime contentious, issue of collective bargaining and a proposed salary ordinance for nonunion employees.
Council member Sue Lynch, D-at large, said she was upset the salary ordinance had been taken off the agenda. She also said she was upset that contracts had not been reached with three employee bargaining groups, blaming the city's negotiating team.
Lynch's comments were followed by others, including comments from council member Liz Modesto, D-1st District, who said Mayor James Snyder had threatened earlier in the evening that if the council did not approve the salary ordinance, he would not approve union contracts.
Snyder had left the meeting early to attend his son's birthday party, but was contacted by staff about the discussion and returned to the meeting.
"I thought it was very deceitful and cowardly they brought it up knowing I wasn't there and that the staff wouldn't be able to answer the questions. When I heard about it, I went to the meeting," he said.
Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham said when Snyder returned, he attempted to clear the front row of audience seats to have his department chairs take the seats, but shouting continued between the council and mayor. Stidham said Snyder was attempting to take the gavel from Oprisko when the council quickly voted to adjourn the meeting.
Councilman Pat Clem,D-2nd District, said as he started walking away from the meeting hall, Snyder confronted him, calling him a "coward" and a "fat coward."
The confrontation continued as the two walked down the stairs into the lobby of the building at the same time people were leaving a concert.
Clem said Snyder continually bumped him, called him names and made accusations. Snyder said Clem "chest bumped" him and used foul language. He denied touching Clem. Snyder admitted to using the word "coward" several times.
The two were separated twice by police officers who were at the meeting.
Clem said Snyder also confronted him in the parking lot before leaving.
Snyder said he let his emotions get the better of him and, in hindsight, probably shouldn't have returned to the meeting.
"I was not being emotional for me. It is important that I defend the hard-working people that hold this community together," said Snyder, adding he reached out to Clem on Wednesday.
"Me and Pat will figure it out," he said.
"I was embarrassed that the public witnessed what occurred last night, from both sides," said council member Collin Czilli, D-5th District.
Both he and council member John Cannon, R-4th District, voted against adjourning the meeting Tuesday, saying they wanted to hear Snyder out.
"Collin and I will sit down with the mayor and try to work out an arrangement," Cannon said about moving forward.
Oprisko said he hopes the issue of contract negotiations and the salary ordinance will be resolved in the next couple of weeks and believes the council can work together.
"We will get through it. It was a bad night. We've had a lot more good nights," Snyder said.
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