By Ken de la Bastide
GALVESTON — In what was viewed as retaliation by town residents, the Galveston Town Council refused to place local businessman Bruce Moss on the agenda.
Moss requested by Friday’s deadline to address the town council at its Monday meeting. When he arrived at the Community Building, Moss was not included on the agenda.
Near the end of the meeting, Moss asked why he was not included.
“Last month was Bruce Moss’ meeting,” Council President Jim Buettner said. “This month’s the town board meeting.”
That reply elicited loud outcries from the approximately 100 residents in attendance.
But that wasn’t the only action by council members that upset the residents at the meeting. Earlier, the town council voted without discussion to move the July 13 meeting back to the town hall, where the meetings are regularly held.
The last two monthly meetings were conducted at the Community Building, which can accommodate a larger crowd.
When the motion was presented to move the meeting back to the town hall, the council declined to allow residents to discuss the decision.
The problem is a conflict with the local Boy Scout troop that meets at the Community Building. The Scouts have also meet in the past at the local school.
“The Scouts can’t use the school because it is under construction,” Council member Kenny Cripe said. “We didn’t want to prevent the Scouts from meeting.”
Council member John Hart said the council should work with the Scouts to reach an agreement so the meetings could continue at the Community Building.
Later in the meeting, residents asked what the legal capacity of the town hall was, questioning whether it could accommodate a larger crowd.
Board member John Zook’s reply of 120 resulted in renewed outcries from the residents.
Another point of contention at the meeting was the proposal to remove rocks on North Street.
Council member Mike Harmon asked the council to remove the rocks because of complaints.
Harmon said a survey would be required to determine if the rocks were on private property or in the town’s right of way.
Moss asked if there were other rocks in the right of way, would those also be moved.
That brought the discussion to property owned by Zook on Sycamore Street that residents believe is in violation of the town ordinance dealing with personnel property blocking the sidewalk.
“If we start doing one, we have to do them all,” Harmon said of the enforcement of ordinances.
Chet Cree said residents have been asking the council to enforce two ordinances for over a year.
“If you’re not going to enforce those two, don’t enforce any of them,” Gree said.
• Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com
