At the April City Council Meeting, and in subsequent actions, Mayor Vipperman continued his repression of residents seeking to offer views and comments.

Mr Vipperman stated that residents will be allowed to speak a total of ten minutes per meeting, regardless of how many important items are on the agenda. City staff appears to be charged with keeping timesheets for each speaker.

Mr Vipperman said that if a resident asks for additional time, the answer will be NO.

See Mr Vipperman make his decree (40 seconds) Quicktime | Windows Media (WMV)

Subsequent to the meeting, without a public hearing or notification, a new policy was made whereby residents are forbidden from making PowerPoint presentations. Only City Staff can now make PowerPoint presentations.
Residents have been able to make PowerPoint presentations since the equipment has been used at City meetings.

Residents wonder why they are being denied access to equipment they paid for, and why Mr Vipperman is denying residents the ability to present PowerPoints which Mr Vipperman has done himself a number of times.

When a resident wishes to defend a valuable view or present evidence via a PowerPoint, which also is readily seen by Cable & Internet viewers, they will be told NO. Staff will offer the City's side of an issue with graphics, bullet points, and photos, while residents will have to point at sheets of paper. The residents paid for the audio-visual equipment but they cannot use it, as they have been for a number of years.

Residents are starting to post concerns over these behaviors on local forums (not associated with this website)

Forum 1 Link | Forum 2 Link