Goodrich- Public comments led to police intervention at Monday’s school board meeting.
Resident Mark Griffiths was escorted from the building by three Genesee County Sheriff’s deputies, following his refusal to relinquish the floor and be seated during the portion of the meeting designated for public comments.
Board President Michael Tripp requested he be removed following Griffiths making comments Tripp interpreted as being derogatory toward individuals.
‘I really didn’t feel like I attacked individual members of the board. I addressed the board as a whole,? said Griffiths.
Tripp said Griffiths had every right to express his opinion, so long as he did so respectfully.
Griffiths said he had used stronger language to draw attention to issues he felt were being ignored, but had not been disrespectful.
Tripp was acting on the Board of Education By-Laws, which state: ‘The presiding officer may interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant’s statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant.?
The laws go on to read the presiding officer may ‘request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum,? and ‘request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person’s conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting.?
Tripp had warned Griffiths about the nature of his comments as Griffiths addressed the board concerning $1.1 million more than anticipated left over in the district’s budget. Superintendent Kimberly Hart said the extra cash is due largely to arbitration earlier this year ruling that the school district acted legally in reducing the school year by 14 days. Had the arbitrator ruled differently, said Hart, the decision would have come at a large cost to the district. It was that worst case scenario which Hart said the district budgeted for, resulting in more money left in the budget than anticipated.
Griffiths said he thinks there is more to it than that, insinuating the board had been less than forthcoming with information about the extra money.
Reading from a typed document that he asked to be included into the minutes, Griffiths spoke at length, following an initial interruption by Tripp directing him to refrain from using derogatory language and to get to the point.
When Griffiths again began using language Tripp felt violated the By-Laws, he told Griffiths to be seated. Griffiths refused, citing his intention to finish saying what he had started to say, at which point Tripp asked authorities be called to remove Griffiths from the premises.
The meeting was put into recess while board members, administrators, Griffiths and those in attendance awaited the arrival of the three deputies, who then escorted Griffiths from the building.
Captain Christopher Swanson of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said the number of law enforcement officials dispatched was typical for a call of this nature, to ensure the rights of the individual were respected.
Griffiths exited peacefully and handcuffs were not used.
For Tripp, a 13-year veteran of the school board, it was the first time in memory for such an occurrence.
Swanson said he was also not aware of any other similar incident at a school board meeting in Goodrich.
‘It’s a rare occasion that people have to be asked to be removed because of freedom of speech,? said Swanson.
Dawn Hertz, who provides legal counsel to the Michigan Press Association, said from the information provided, the board was within its right to have Griffiths removed.
Hertz explained that under the Open Meetings Act, the board has to set aside a time for public comments. During that time, Griffiths was allowed to exercise freedom of speech, specifically, the right to petition government.
However, ‘even the Open Meetings Act says you can be removed (if you are being disruptive),? said Hertz. ‘You have the right to petition but it’s not a right to abuse. We’re always balancing those rights just like anything else. It’s a judgment call.?
Calling law enforcement was an action Griffiths said was not justified.
‘I’m not surprised, but I don’t think it was called for,? said Griffiths. ‘They get offended at every little thing. I have actually been anticipating they would do this any number of times.?
Tripp said Griffiths will be allowed to attend the next meeting and the board does not intend to press charges.
Griffiths said he will attend the next meeting, and encourages other parents to do the same.
‘I think there are more people in the community that feel the way I do than the way (board members and administration) do,? said Griffiths. ‘So many people who showed up for a while aren’t coming to the board meetings anymore. The board has driven the community away. It’s becoming more and more apparent where the blame lies.?
‘If, in fact, you’re going to go to the meeting and you are going to make a statement, you should make certain to ask the board to include your statement as you make it into the minutes,? Griffiths added. Additionally, Griffiths suggests providing a written copy of the statement to request to be included in the minutes.