In their haste to disenfranchise the public, the Pima County Board of Supervisors left the building but did not officially end their public meeting on Tuesday morning. In order to abruptly end the Call to the Audience portion of the meeting, Board Chair Sharon Bronson gaveled the meeting to a close.
Bronson failed to make a motion to end the meeting neither did she receive a second, which would be required to officially end a public meeting according to a member of another governing board, who reviewed a video of the meeting.
According to sources, many attendees had submitted speakers’ cards to the Clerk of the Board, however those requests were ignored because Bronson would not permit any discussion of Agenda Item #4 (the use of public money for private non-profit enterprises). Seconds after Bronson asked if there were any more speakers, a Pima County resident indicated that she wanted to be heard, Bronson then immediately slammed the gavel down.
The diverse group of residents began shouting in protest. Despite Supervisor Ally Miller’s request that the people be allowed to speak, Bronson exited the dais and Supervisor Richard Elias left almost immediately thereafter.
It appears, according to sources, that the supervisors will be required to return to the Boardroom to officially close the meeting. Pima County residents are considering filing an Open Meeting Law complaint against the supervisors.
One man said of the apparent breach, “Sharon just confirmed what I shared in the open meeting: if you say a lie often enough you start believe it. What we saw is proof positive that she intended to act in a malicious manner. As clearly pointed out by Supervisor Ally Miller, we have corruption at it finest.”
To review the footage and the full account of the meeting click here.
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