Board of Aldermen 5-26-2020 Page 30
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, ,Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,
Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,
Alderman Cleaver, Alderwoman Harriott-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 9
Nay: Alderman Klee, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Caron, Alderwoman Lu,
Alderman Jette 5
MOTION CARRIED
Ordinance O-20-019 declared duly adopted.
PERIOD FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT - None
REMARKS BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Alderman O’Brien
Thank you, Madam President. | was going to apologize for my little outburst earlier but | am not. And the
reason is because those of you who are (inaudible) know, a conflict of interest is a lot different, a lot wider
than what exists on this Board. | know that this is highly prejudicial, | wonder if my son was a priest, could |
have voted on this last Ordinance because it has to do with a Catholic Organization? The point is this, | did
not (inaudible) my son’s (inaudible). | am capable | am responsible to the voters who have duly voted for
me. And if | do vote wrongly, | think the voters will have their say at the polls if they feel that there is
anything showing any type of conflict. So | am not going to really apologize, | am going to fight it, | will look
to prepare an Ordinance following more what is following on the State Guidelines, that many of you who
are former Representatives, who are currently State Representatives, currently follow in the State House. |
think we are all mature, | looked at some members of the Board, some of you came from other Boards such
as School Department. But you show no prejudice.
But this Ordinance, excuse me, this thing where | can’t and | have to recuse myself | think is highly
prejudice to me and to the voters who duly elected me. | am a fair guy, | think | could do it right and, in all
fairness, | think with the Fire Department, yeah that is my experience. | spent 10 years as a firefighter, 10
years as an Officer and 15 years as a Deputy Fire Chief. So 35 years, | think | paid my dues and | think
what is good and what is bad within the Fire Department. But this is limiting my ability to vote for it. And
also, too — in the Mayor’s remarks, | did note that | think the Mayor probably without any malice and I’m
sure it was without any malice but he said “17% at 4% for four years”. But from what | understand and from
my education and my experience on the Fire Department, | think it is actually and correct me if | am wrong,
3.5% at 14%. | don’t think | would have supported a 17% raise but the 14% seems to be accurate and
maybe the Mayor misspoke.
Attorney Bolton | am looking to perhaps maybe working with you in the future to change this inequity that is
prejudicial to anybody in the future that comes. Just because of what my son chose to do for a career that |
cannot vote, | find it entirely prejudicial and | am looking to change that. And then also too, while I’ve got
the floor, while we are changing some other really ideas and things that have happened in the past, | am
really looking forward to working with Alderman Ben Clemons if he so wishes. We’ve got to fix this
umbrella thing down on Main Street. | don’t know (inaudible) when we walk by Peddler’s Daughter that you
are going to see a Guinness Umbrella. OK? And | think that could be done, | mean | think anybody knows
that they are working by a barroom, | don’t think an umbrella is really going to cut the mustard there. So |
think we really need to look at that. So | thank you for your time in listening to my little diatribe, thank you.
