WORCESTER—How the Worcester City Council members should conduct themselves was up for some debate at the council’s Jan. 14 meeting.
Before referring two orders put forth by Mayor Joseph Petty to the Standing Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations, the council discussed re-examining the rules of decorum in the council chambers.
King in favor of the order
Vice Chair Khrystian King started by saying he was in favor of the order and that councilors’ behavior should be revisited from time to time.
“It’s a wonderful order; it’s timely,” King said. “Any adjustment we can [make] to ensure we’re addressing rules and assure there’s an equal application of rules, which would of course be part of this, is something that benefits everyone.”
King said he regrettably “lost his composure” at a previous meeting when he asked Petty to step down from the dais when responding to other councilors.
“We deal with a lot of matters here,” King said, adding that past council members have used profanities, raised their voices and shed tears, when they are passionate about a subject, but that the rules of decorum should be examined.
“I’m looking forward to adjusting rules and applying them equally to everyone,” King said.
Council member Etel Haxhiaj said she felt bad that King had to apologize, as she did not feel he threatened anyone when he raised his voice. She offered an amendment motion to include councilors’ decorum within City Hall after meetings.
To Zoom or not to Zoom?
The second order by Petty would re-examine the elected officials’ ability to use Zoom (or other remote platforms) to participate in meetings. A March 2020 executive order by Gov. Charlie Baker suspended some provisions of the Open Meeting Law, allowing members of elected bodies to use videoconferencing to take part in meetings. That order was extended by Gov. Maura Healy in June of 2023, but is set to expire on March 31 of this year.
Council member Thu Nguyen said they had received criticism for attending meetings via Zoom, but that no rule was violated.
“I do not break any rules or conduct for attending meetings remotely,” Nguyen said, also defending King’s actions toward the mayor. “What I saw was the vice chair not threatening you, but asking you to follow the rules.”
Nguyen: ‘I have felt unsafe’
Nguyen’s criticisms of the mayor did not end there.
“Under your leadership, I have felt unsafe around this council body. I have faced transphobia, being misgendered and I recently learned that I have been dehumanized to a point where I’m being referred to as ‘it’ by my colleagues on this council.”
Nguyen added that they have never felt there was any avenue they could turn to for safety, and to feel protected against the “discrimination and toxicity” of the council’s culture.
“As we take a look at these two orders, I hope we take seriously the matters of transphobia and discrimination within our own council and practices,” Nguyen said, adding that it is for these reasons that they sometimes do not attend meetings in person, and hopes that the state extends the orders regarding remote participation, rather than allowing them to sunset in March.
Better decorum = more candidates?
Haxhiaj said the ramifications of improving the council’s decorum is important, as it could resonate among others who might consider seeking public office, and proposed holding the motions under privilege until the public can chime in.
“The reason why a lot of folks from marginalized identities … don’t run for office, or get scared and intimidated running for office, is precisely what Councilor Nguyen said this evening.”
Steve Smith is a veteran reporter from Connecticut with 17 years of experience at The Hartford Courant.
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