Letter: Council shouldn’t allow citizens asking questions to be insulted

0

Editor,

If you went to a council meeting to ask questions and were demeaned and insulted after you left, how would you feel about Carmel’s transparency? At (the April 15)  meeting, one of our highest-paid city employees, Henry Mestetsky, did just that.

Watch for yourself in the online meeting video at the 39 and 43 minute marks. The array of demeaning remarks hurled is inexcusably inappropriate, especially calling Mike Shaver ‘Castration Mike’ because of a 2014 would-be private joke (initiated by someone else, not Mike).

Henry’s unprofessional outburst implied the number of questions Mike asks is excessive and they insinuate wrongdoing. When we hold our city accountable by challenging them with questions, that is good for everyone. Hopefully, the answers will disprove wrongdoing.

Perhaps most alarming was the hypocrisy of our council saying they are for transparency while allowing a key city figure to publicly rant against a citizen asking questions. Instead of stopping or addressing the rant, they thanked him.

New challenger candidates also are neighbors and citizens. We are all equally entitled to ask questions without being insulted. If asking questions is a political stunt, isn’t allowing an attack on the questioner likewise a political stunt?

In my decades in the U.S. military and Fortune 500 companies, behavior like that would not be tolerated; rather, a reprimand would be given. I think a sincere apology is in order.

Dave Hommel, Carmel resident and candidate for Carmel City Council


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact