Question period after Port Coquitlam city council meetings may be more restrictive in the new year.
Mayor Greg Moore said council - at its first meeting in January - will consider a new policy that would tighten the rules around public conduct during the defined time slot.
Today, Moore told The Tri-City News the move comes in response to a regular council watcher and former mayoral candidate whom Moore says has continuously made disrespectful comments in the council chambers.
At Monday's regular council meeting, the last for 2014, Patrick Alambets made "inappropriate" and accusatory remarks, Moore said.
When Alambets launched a personal attack against Moore, his wife and their teenage daughter, most council members gathered their belongings and left the room.
"That will be the last question you will ever ask," a rattled Moore told Alambets, before exiting as well.
Moore said city staff are now working on a report to design a decorum policy for the public. He said it's "unfortunate" council will look at implementing tougher steps, given its pledge to be more open and transparent, but because of Alambets' behaviour, there's currently "not a welcoming environment" for other PoCo residents to ask questions of council and staff.
"We want to encourage more residents to come forward to seek answers from council," Moore said, adding, "Mr. Alambets is taking advantage of a situation with no intent on actually doing anything. He just wants to be malicious and I'm glad council walked away."
For his part, Alambets told The Tri-City News he has no respect for Moore.
"I am of the opinion they are all incompetent," Alambets said of council. "I know that the people of Port Coquitlam elect them because they attend all the social events and flatter the people of Port Coquitlam. I know they subsidize everything. I've called them 'vote whores,' to their face."
Under PoCo's council procedure bylaw, mayor and council must adhere to strict guidelines during council discussions, including:
using respectful language;
not using offensive gestures or signs;
and speaking only in connection with the matter being debated.
But there's no specific language in the bylaw pertaining to how the public can interact with council members while in chambers.
In Coquitlam and many other B.C. cities, question period is limited to items on the agenda; however, Moore said he likes the idea that PoCo residents can ask questions about anything "but we have one person not respecting council and this community."
According to the city's website, it states that "during a public hearing or public input opportunity... everyone is welcome to make his or her own views known."
Still, it's not the first time PoCo has had to impose restrictions on residents for disruptive behaviour.
In 2003, then mayor Scott Young and council banned former mayoral candidate and council watcher Sylvia Osberg - a longtime PoCo property owner - from attending any council or committee meeting, public hearing or question period in PoCo.
The prohibition order allows the RCMP to "take all necessary measures to enforce this order, including the use of such force as is necessary in the circumstances."
@jwarrenTC
