To view the video of the Raytown Aldermen Meeting
covered in this week's story
Board Meeting marked by Tension and Unusual Behavior
click on the following link to view the video of the meeting.
Board Meeting marked by
Tension and Unusual Behavior
During Public Comments, Mr. Morris Melloy, who ran for the Ward 3 seat last year, paused mid‑speech to check on Alderwoman Bonnaye Mims. She was turned completely away from him, facing the opposite direction. It wasn’t the first time this has happened. At the previous meeting, she also turned her back while he spoke.
People in the audience noticed. One alderman later called the behavior “bad manners.” Most folks would probably agree that when a private citizen takes the time to speak, the least elected officials should do is hear what they have to say.
After Melloy finished, Alderwoman Mims claimed he had called her a “______ ______,” language that is not allowed for print in the Raytown Report.
Mims also said she had an audio recording to prove it.
Melloy denied the accusation. He has since filed a Sunshine Request with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to obtain a copy of the recording, which he is entitled to do since the comments were made by Alderwoman Mims during a public meeting.
The rest of the meeting was short — under an hour — but still managed to produce another awkward moment.
As the meeting ended, Alderman Greg Walters quietly said to his seatmate on the Board, Ward 1 Alderwoman Theresa Tush, “such as it is.” The Mayor immediately challenged him, asking if he had something to say to the Board. Walters replied that he did not have anything of significance and began gathering his papers in preperation of leaving.
The Board is clearly under pressure, especially with potential legislation on the horizon that could remove one of its members.
But even so, it’s hard to understand why Alderwoman Mims repeatedly refuses to face Melloy when he is speaking.
Or, why the Mayor reacted so sharply to a simple four‑word comment spoken to his seatmate setting next to him after the meeting was over.
Raytown residents deserve calm, respectful leadership. With ten people on the Board, there’s no reason for tension to spill into public meetings.
On a personal note, Greg tells us he has known Morris Melloy for three years. He describes Mr. Melloy's manner as polite, soft-spoken and what he called an "old school gentleman". Walters went on to say he has never heard Melloy use profanity in the three years he’s known him. The idea that Melloy would use a slur toward anyone simply does not match the character of the man I have known for three years.
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1 comment:
I remember a meeting last year after some kids shot up Colman Park with a fusilade of gunfire that lasted about ten minutes before the Police finally came and ran them off.
A neighbor of mine, Jim DeLong, attended a public meeting of the Raytown Park Board to report what had taken place. About 50 people showed up at the meeting. The next night Jim went before the City Council to give the same report during Public Comments.
Before he was allowed to speak, Mayor McDonough warned DeLong on the use of foul language in his report. DeLong gave his report, which the Mayor interrupted twice, during DeLongs presentation.
Which was rude and plainly speaking, unfair. Jim had not broken any rules, used any foul or racist language, but was still literally robbed of close to two minutes of his alloted five minute speaking time by the Mayor's interruption.
At last Tuesday's meeting, Alderwoman Mims used a racial slur while making an unfounded accusation at a public speaker.
All you heard from the Mayor was "cricketts"!
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