Montrose Council Members Scuffle With WBRE-TV
By: Joe Holden
Updated: February 15, 2012
Montrose, Susquehanna County- A scuffle in the parking lot Tuesday night capped a tense back-and-forth between council members, members of the public and representative of the media.
All jammed a council meeting to discuss a 13-point code of conduct that's as harsh as it may be illegal, according to legal experts.
While council was supposed to discuss the code, as advertised, instead, no public comment was accepted and elected leaders rammed forward and voted on the measures.
The code of conduct passed, with one dissenting vote cast by Julanne Skinner.
Solicitor Marion O'Malley said she was confident the code would withstand a legal challenge.
The measure goes as far as to restrict camera operators from standing by their equipment, requires the use of tripods, mandates speakers live in Montrose, sets three minute public comment caps, sets rules for recording devices, states no audio recorders be concealed, prohibits the placement of microphones on the council table and the recording of anything before and after the council meeting.
Eyewitness News contacted the ACLU prior to Tuesday night's meeting. Mary Catherine Roper, a staff attorney, said some of the rules go too far. She called the code of conduct "wacky."
O'Malley, a part-time assistant district attorney for Susquehanna County according to DA Jason Legge, refused to answer questions on camera.
Eyewitness News has left several messages for O'Malley since last week's meeting, when council members stormed out of a meeting because members of the public showed up with cameras.
Council President Tom LaMont, too, refused to answer questions. He said in the 15 years he's been elected, he never talks to reporters.
For as harsh as council was with its code of conduct, it would seem good conduct went out the window when two councilmen, Sean Granahan and Craig Reimel exited the borough building.
Caught on camera, Granahan shoved an Eyewitness News reporter who was attempting to ask the elected leader a question about the meeting. Following that, Reimel body-checked the same reporter and attempted to trip him.
Police later identified the councilmen to Eyewitness News after reviewing the video.
Montrose Police Sergeant John Walker took a police report of the incident. It's unclear if the pair will face charges. Another news crew from Binghamton was taping as the scuffle occurred. Eyewitness News is working to obtain that video.
Another meeting is set for Monday.
All jammed a council meeting to discuss a 13-point code of conduct that's as harsh as it may be illegal, according to legal experts.
While council was supposed to discuss the code, as advertised, instead, no public comment was accepted and elected leaders rammed forward and voted on the measures.
The code of conduct passed, with one dissenting vote cast by Julanne Skinner.
Solicitor Marion O'Malley said she was confident the code would withstand a legal challenge.
The measure goes as far as to restrict camera operators from standing by their equipment, requires the use of tripods, mandates speakers live in Montrose, sets three minute public comment caps, sets rules for recording devices, states no audio recorders be concealed, prohibits the placement of microphones on the council table and the recording of anything before and after the council meeting.
Eyewitness News contacted the ACLU prior to Tuesday night's meeting. Mary Catherine Roper, a staff attorney, said some of the rules go too far. She called the code of conduct "wacky."
O'Malley, a part-time assistant district attorney for Susquehanna County according to DA Jason Legge, refused to answer questions on camera.
Eyewitness News has left several messages for O'Malley since last week's meeting, when council members stormed out of a meeting because members of the public showed up with cameras.
Council President Tom LaMont, too, refused to answer questions. He said in the 15 years he's been elected, he never talks to reporters.
For as harsh as council was with its code of conduct, it would seem good conduct went out the window when two councilmen, Sean Granahan and Craig Reimel exited the borough building.
Caught on camera, Granahan shoved an Eyewitness News reporter who was attempting to ask the elected leader a question about the meeting. Following that, Reimel body-checked the same reporter and attempted to trip him.
Police later identified the councilmen to Eyewitness News after reviewing the video.
Montrose Police Sergeant John Walker took a police report of the incident. It's unclear if the pair will face charges. Another news crew from Binghamton was taping as the scuffle occurred. Eyewitness News is working to obtain that video.
Another meeting is set for Monday.
Comments
I'm still wondering if the bills have been paid? I've been told this behavior is normal from Montrose Borough Council. Might want to check the local bars for the real meeting....
Simple S.
February 16, 2012 at 7:24 pm
This is is about government transparency and acoountabilty and citizen participation in their government, which are all American values. Elected officials are required to do their business in an open way.
Lynn S.
February 16, 2012 at 8:45 am
This is is about government transparency and acoountabilty and citizen participation in their government, which are all American values. Elected officials are required to do their business in an open way.
Lynn S.
February 16, 2012 at 8:44 am
Mike M.
February 15, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Great job Joe! hard to get both sides of the story when given the opportunity, they proudly claim 'i dont make comments to reporters'......this is about rights and respect, not Dimock
Mike M.
February 15, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Blaming Vera Scroggins or the press for this uproar is ridiculous. The people who are responsible are those members of the Montrose Council Borough who do not seem to understand or care about the Sunshine Law, the intent of the Sunshine Law, transparency in government, or plain old-fashioned common courtesy and common sense. They are certainly not doing Montrose or themselves any favors by behaving this way.
Mary S.
February 15, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Samantha S. - I've been doing this for a long time. No one is allowed to place his/her hands on another. And I'll be [censored] if I'm going to take this kind of [censored] from elected officials no less. And just because my photographer didn't catch me getting body-checked, another affiliate's camera will show it. Oh, and about us telling both sides of the story, perhaps you could encourage your councilmen to return phone calls. We've been trying to get their side for a week now. Absolutely pathetic.
Joe H.
February 15, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Samantha S.- I know right ...and still she takes the time to bring to our attention the Sunshine Act,
The lack of transparency in our local government that has plagued this county for decades,
and to raise awareness of the issues relating to the Marcellus shale boom and the impact it is having on our roads,
our air quality, and the potential impact to water quality...Vera Isn't from Dimock, and
the only people that find that relevant are those who would rather people stay in the darkness.
Mark M.
February 15, 2012 at 11:30 am
And by the way, Vera Scroggins is not even from the Dimock Area, she is from Brackney.
Samantha S.
February 15, 2012 at 7:51 am
Seriously? I really hope WBRE is getting both sides of the story. The Dimock population was offered alot from the gas companys in reguards to getting cleaner water. They brought this on themselves. And besides, that was not a shove on camera Mr. Granahan was simply moving the [censored] microphone out of his face, using the word shove is incorrect due to the context that it means, to move something with force and there was no force. And how can you acuse Mr. Reimel for body-checking the reporter when it was not caught on camera.
Samantha S.
February 15, 2012 at 7:43 am
