My Turn: On the city’s code of civility

New City of Greenfield seal. Staff Photo/PAUL FRANZ
Published: 08-01-2024 8:54 PM |
I was disappointed by the recent article “Greenfield councilors debate proposed Code of Conduct,” [Recorder, July 12].
The article misses the point and mischaracterizes my statements. I’m writing to set the record straight.
I did not say that the council no longer uses Robert’s Rules of Order. Of course we do. My position was this:
Starting with the Code of Conduct created by Mayor Christine Forgey in 2006, Greenfield has a long history of discussing how elected and appointed officials should treat one another and the public. Councilor Marianne Bullock’s proposed Code of Conduct is the latest attempt to ensure that we treat each other with respect and dignity.
Near the end of Mayor William Martin’s tenure, the city passed a Code of Civility that applies to all elected and appointed officials. The document exists but, for no apparent conscious reason, has fallen out of use.
Councilor Bullock’s proposal and the existing Code of Civility are comparable. Councilors do not have the power to amend the Code of Civility, but we do have the power to sign it.
And, while (fortunately or unfortunately) we cannot legislate respect, the City Council already abides by Robert’s Rules of Order, which lays out a process for calling councilors to order and, if and when needed, for censure.
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Not wanting to recreate the wheel, I proposed to my colleagues on the Appointments & Ordinances Subcommittee that rather than create a new Code of Conduct, we ask councilors to sign onto the existing Code of Civility and familiarize themselves with the Robert’s Rules of Order section on discipline.
My colleagues, Councilors Wahab Minhas and Michael Mastrototaro, agreed.
It’s important to make clear that this effort is not an attempt to target any specific councilor. That would be inappropriate. Rather, it is to remind ourselves and make clear to the public that we, as a council, hold ourselves to a high standard, and share clear expectations of one another, even — especially — when in the midst of contentious or challenging discussion.
As the Greenfield Code of Civility states:
“The freedom to express one’s views about public matters is a cornerstone of the democratic process. We, as elected and appointed officials welcome the diverse views and opinions of all members of the public, as they relate to the issues before us. In order for these discussions to be meaningful and effective, we must treat others with respect and dignity.”
In this period of dangerously heightened tensions in our national politics, we in Greenfield have an important opportunity at the local level to demonstrate a different approach to the democratic process, and recommitting to our existing Code of Civility is a useful part of doing so.
I very much hope that my colleagues on the City Council will join me in signing Greenfield’s Code of Civility, that the mayor’s office and all other elected and appointed officials will join us in signing, and that we will all work to ensure that incoming officials sign the document as well.
Katherine Golub represents Precinct 1 on the Greenfield City Council.