'I'll be back:' Councilwoman Carolyn Shireman removed from Bucyrus City Council meeting

Carolyn Shireman, a Republican at-large member of Bucyrus City Council, was removed Tuesday night from a regular council meeting .

The meeting started with Shireman addressing Kurt Fankhauser, council president , to make a "parliamentary inquiry."

"I would like to ask for no public participation at tonight's meeting," Shireman said. "As well as the public has the right to speak at the council meeting, I believe that Mrs. Slater is interfering with the work that council was voted to do."

A person in the audience booed her suggestion.

"There's not going to be any noises from the audience," Fankhauser announced. "You can be removed from the council chambers for making noises and interrupting."

Shireman continued by saying Clarissa Slater, a Bucyrus resident, had provided council with information about five different sex offenders, and that she felt it would be an unwise use of time for council to allow Slater to speak publicly on that matter.

"Council has a job to do for the people," Shireman said. "That is why we are here."

'I personally plead that we all act as respectful adults'

The councilwoman asked Brian Gernert, the city's law director, if there was any legal way to block the public from speaking during the meeting.

"I suppose that if you wanted to suspend the rules, you can make a motion to suspend the rules," Gernert said. "Public participation is part of the rules of council, so to dispense of that would be pursuant to a two-thirds vote by council."

Shireman then moved to dismiss Tuesday night's public participation.

Councilwoman Vicki Dishon read aloud a portion of city code that dictates behavioral expectations for everyone at meetings, elected officials and residents alike.

That city code prohibits people from "making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks," and allows for anyone who is "boisterous or physically threatening to members of council, the administration and others in attendance" to be removed from the council chambers.

Dishon said she has always been in favor of public participation during council meetings, as long as they do not cross a line.

"I personally plead that we all act as respectful adults, not only tonight but going forward," Dishon urged. "With that said, I will be voting against the motion that public participation be removed from tonight's agenda."

During the roll-call vote, Shireman was the only council member who voted to cut public participation. The motion failed, 6-1.

'Weaponizing the position that you are in'

A few residents attended Tuesday's meeting to address council members. One of them was a man who asked officials to invite God into their lives and to approach their meetings prayerfully. Another was a woman who had a safety concern about a sidewalk.

Slater then stepped to the podium. She thanked the council for the right to speak, but told them the attempt to ban her from doing so was "weaponizing the position that you are in."

Her concern, she said, was that she had learned a registered sex offender had been freely attending public events where children were present.

"There's nothing in our local ordinances that say that an individual who is a registered felonious sex offender is not allowed to be in public areas," Slater said. "The Ohio Revised Code only states that sex offenders must maintain a residence at least 1,000 feet from any childcare facility or school."

She said those laws were "insufficient" in protecting the city's children. She doesn't think sex offenders should be allowed to visit public parks, playgrounds and pools.

"I feel like we all want what's best for our children and young people," Slater said. "At this time, I do ask the council to please refer this to the health and safety committee."

'There is no point of order'

The woman then turned her attention to Shireman.

"Carolyn," Slater said looking at the councilwoman, "I'm very disappointed that you talked about bringing up slanderous —"

Shireman interrupted her to say: "I don't want you talking about me during council."

"Excuse me, ma'am," Slater said. "This is public participation and it is my right to speak."

Shireman continued to disrupt the visitor, drawing criticism from the council president.

"Carolyn, can you please let Mrs. Slater continue her speech?" Fankhauser asked.

"I'm about to tell a story that I promised I would not tell about this sex offender stuff," Shireman answered. "I'm tired of hearing it."

Fankhauser tried again to settle the councilwoman, saying: "Carolyn, please."

"There is no point of order," Shireman said.

The speaker finally had another moment to continue.

"You have a right to have an opinion about me," Slater said. "You can dislike my opinions, but you are held to a higher standard because you are a council member."

Shireman stopped the woman, again, which drew a reaction from Councilman Kevin Myers.

"Point of order," Myers said. "Mister president, can I ask you to do your job and have her removed after this many warnings?"

Fankhauser said he could not remove a council member, but that the rest of council could vote to have Shireman barred from the remainder of the meeting.

"So moved," Myers said.

"I'll second that," Councilwoman Aaron Sharrock said.

During another roll-call vote, Shireman was the only person who voted against having herself kicked out of the meeting. The motion passed, 6-1.

The city attorney then stood and asked the councilwoman to follow him out of council chambers.

"Can I come up and do a public as a citizen?" Shireman asked.

Gernert told her no.

"If I have to leave, then I'm going to say my final thing," Shireman stood and shouted. "Somebody needs growing up, the situation with the pool and the child molesting accusations."

The councilwoman pointed at the audience and said she could have sued the city this spring, but didn't elaborate.

The council president then put the meeting into a recess.

"I'll be back," Shireman said before leaving.

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: 'I'll be back:' Councilwoman Carolyn Shireman removed from Bucyrus City Council meeting