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ecenc clause9 <br />fails it <br />om start <br />No-- A Banning proposal First Amendment to the U.S. Con- After a short debate, Mayor <br />stitution, a First Amendment ex- John Hunt declared that public <br />WOUld have limited pert said Monday. comment would be allowed. <br />CritiCISM at Meetings, When the "decency clause" "It is my belief that there's no <br />came up on the agenda Tuesday, way to legislate good manners, <br />but residents say the City Manager Dave Weitzel sug. resident Rose Clark said. "If the <br />Attorney <br />estthe council refer it to City freedom of speech is to be guided, <br />'First Amendment is a Attorney John Wilson for his re- controlled Or forbidden, then you <br />better guide, view before considering it Fur- may as well lock the door and go to <br />B ther, that meant the Public *didn't secret meetings.11 <br />y Mete OWm need to comment on it, Weitzel <br />ThePreaTilta7wim Said. As the discussion of free speech <br />drew to a cle, Councilman Joe <br />BANNING Not so, said Wilson. The Brown Lucsko said, "Iost appears as though <br />After hearing a proposal to re- Act gives the Public the right to the people have spoken and I don't <br />strict what the public could talk speak on any item on the agenda. expect this to com <br />about at council meetings, Banning e back." <br />council members decided they <br />didn't want to talk about the sub- <br />ject at all Tuesday, and probably <br />won't want to in the future. <br />City officials had proposed what <br />they called a "decency clause" to <br />ban the Public from making "nega- <br />tive or defamatory" comments at <br />council meetings. <br />Any such rule would violate the <br />