One man was escorted out after he was caught recording the Monday night meeting in contradiction to the city’s Respectful Workplace’s Bylaw.
The man was caught early in the night by mayor Leonard Krog who asked the attendee several times to refrain and remove himself from the proceeding. The mayor’s request was also by several other attendees in the crowd.
Under the amended Apr. 7 bylaw, restrictions were placed on video and audio recording to members of an accredited media outlet, but that still hasn’t deterred some from following the rules.
Krog says there is no grey area in the policy and rules must be followed.
“The policy is very clear, that gentleman insisted on recording a meeting and he doesn’t have authorization, as I have given to the legitimate journalists,” Krog says. “He was here to make a point, and he made it.
“The problem is, I have asked him in accordance with the bylaw several times to stop, he refused, and I asked him to remove himself and we wouldn’t.”
In the past there have been several people setting up cameras and recording council meetings, and it was noted during an Apr. 7 meeting they were put on social media along with intimidating commentary.
Photo credit: Justin Baumgardner, VistaRadio
Krog says he didn’t enjoy enacting the new bylaw or calling the RCMP and hopes this is an isolated incident.
“I would really hope he (man escorted out) doesn’t set some precedent for people who think it’s appropriate to engage in that kind of behaviour, disrupt council meetings, and breach the terms of the bylaw.”
The man was escorted out by police and was released, and Krog says once they’re out of the building what happens next is up to the RCMP.
According to city staff, this is the first time the bylaw has been broken since it was adopted and amended.
