10-12-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 12, 2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. happening in some emails where people were quoting exactly from social media and making pretty big accusations about everyone. She noted they don't want to be that group out in Orono and she knows they are all better than that. She noted one other accusation that came up over and over again and she stated if anyone knows the City Attorney, he is Danish and is very direct and will tell them the moment they cross or get near that line. That is just not the truth, she knows their Staff and the Attorney did their research and did their homework, reached out to the State and the Council and Mayor would never want to create an environment where people feel like they could not vote. She happens to have a husband who is a fireman and she asked the other firemen, who were very clear that they need the City to stand by them and the Police. When things were happening in Minneapolis, she couldn't have felt better knowing that Orono's Police were here ready to protect them, and many residents kept asking her "our guys aren't going to leave us, are they?" Men and women in uniform have a tough road, walking into the line of fire and situations not knowing what is coming at them, they are on 24/7,they are there for the public and Seals stated: "we should support them." She noted the City needs to set the tone and say they support their people and it is not about a movement and has nothing to do with anything political; whatever side someone votes for or stands on does not matter. She loves the idea of getting a bigger flagpole for the American Flag and a second pole to fly the other ones. Crosby noted it is unfortunate in today's society that if people disagree with someone, they must come in and attack and disparage a person's character. He is here to say he is pretty tough, he is a New Jersey guy and they are not going to scare him. He asked the community to show their children how to handle people properly and be kind to each other—people can agree to disagree with each other—but it doesn't mean they need to go on the attack or start name-calling without even knowing that person as that is unfair, uneducated, and ignorant. Crosby said they have freedom, democracy and freedom of speech and that is a wonderful thing. He said if they take that away, people are in big trouble. Rief thanked Ms. Ferrer for being willing to donate a flagpole and said that means a lot. He said he will work with Mr. Edwards and Police Chief Farniok to decide the size and type they need and will reach out to Ms. Ferrer. Mayor Walsh told Rief to let him know the cost is and he will follow through on that. Rief said they will also have a couple of locations and bring that to the next Council meeting for informal input. Crosby moved,Johnson seconded, to adopt the Flag Policy with the changes discussed. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Page 21 of 24