Why can’t people handle the truth?

Answer: Some people don’t really want the truth. They just want the constant reassurance that their false beliefs are the truth. 

That was the case during Tuesday’s special called meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Several naysayers, people who criticize, object to and oppose what seems to be absolutely everything, walked in. After being told that public comment is not allowed and why, they instantly started complaining and making false allegations. 

Robert’s Rules for Special Called Meetings for Dummies:

Special meetings are, as the name implies, special.  According to Robert’s Rules, they’re called only if 1. Something important comes up that must be dealt with before the next regular meeting, or 2. Some particular business matter is important enough that it needs to be the exclusive reason for the entire meeting.

If officials need to have a meeting before the next regular meeting, they can do so and it has nothing to do with you. They must be positive that it cannot wait. Additionally, they cannot cover anything more than what is absolutely necessary. Hence, the removal of public comment. Hearing from you is not absolutely necessary. 

To further dumb it down:

Suppose Peter Piper just applied for membership on your Parched Peanut Purveyors panel. Piper promised to pick a peck of pickled peppers for each of your panelists if he’s permitted to petition for a position on the panel prior to the time his pickled pepper patch pays out.

Pickled peppers dry on the vine long before your next regular meeting. You really want Piper to belong to the club. Not only is he a person of patience and prestige, but you and the other panelists have postulated that the prospects for pickled peppers packed with parched peanuts is a profitable possibility. The opportunity to present Piper to the panel and permit his promise to perhaps profit the panel requires a special meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting met all the qualifications for a special called meeting, unlike the “special” presentation at the Warren County Commission meeting last month that really wasn’t.

Rather than sitting respectfully and listening, I could hear the leader of the group at the back of the room rallying the troops to disrupt the proceedings by shouting out. They did just that. The leader confidently questioned what officials could do about it. “They can’t arrest all of us,” she laughed. Very smug, indeed. 

Kudos to Mayor Ryle Chastain on how he handled the situation. 

I’m going to ask the same question of city and county officials as she asked her followers. What are you going to do about it? I would suggest zero tolerance. Disrupt once, act disrespectfully once and you are out.

If you want to hear the truth, come sit next to me. Reassurances that your false beliefs are accurate must be obtained somewhere else. 

Lisa Hobbs can be reached at (931) 473-2191