Ladner: 'Orderly meetings' necessary after work session ends in chaos

Yahoo

30-04-2025

Apr. 30—Council President Jacob Ladner says he is determined to hold "orderly" City Council meetings, and he isn't ruling out ending the public comment period after Monday's work session descended into chaos and at least one arrest.
The council had 13 people sign up for public comment, with many more in attendance, to express their frustration over John "LJ" Scott Jr., a man arrested April 15 by Decatur police after a struggle that followed Scott's apparent mental health crisis.
Scott was transported to the Morgan County Jail where he had an unspecified medical issue and later died at Huntsville Hospital. An autopsy is pending and the incident is being investigated by the Madison County Sheriff's Office.
Only eight of the 13 who signed up got to speak. Obviously frustrated, they focused on the deaths of Steve Perkins, shot to death by a police officer in September 2023, and Scott, both Black men.
The last speaker ended her time with a curse word and, when Ladner started to warn her not to use profanity, other audience members began yelling profanity at him.
Ladner tried banging his gavel, but the yelling increased, so he ended the meeting.
Some people left the council chambers, but a few stood and yelled at Ladner and the council for ending the meeting. One extremely upset woman went to the podium and started yelling, prompting Councilman Billy Jackson to come off the dais and attempt to calm her down.
Meanwhile, one person apparently got into a scuffle with police at the council chamber's entrance and was arrested. Later, an officer was seen limping outside of the Police Department.
Police charged William Landers, 28, of Trinity, with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. He was released from the Morgan County Jail after posting bond, according to jail records.
Many of those in attendance followed Landers and the officers to the Police Department's City Hall entrance and continued to protest. They eventually left City Hall.
Ladner said Tuesday that he's trying to stay patient during the council's public comment period, "but we've got to have an orderly meeting."
A large number of people have been attending council meetings to question and protest the city's reaction to the fatal police shooting of Perkins.
Ladner said audiences at council meetings heard his repeated threats that he would shut down previous meetings over the use of profanity and attacks on individual city employees.
"It's always been a rule (against profanity), but the gavel wasn't working Monday night," Ladner said. "This is a business meeting, so there has to be order."
Ladner wouldn't rule out ending public comment periods, if necessary.
"I'm going to do whatever it takes to get order in the meetings," Ladner said.
City Attorney Herman Marks said state law does not require the City Council to allow public comment, "except when there's a public hearing. Of course, it's always better to have public comment."
Marks said the City Council can meet as a body and set the meeting format, and then the council president sets the agenda.
"(Ladner) has made it clear that a council member can ask or make a suggestion if he or she wants to make an adjustment (to the agenda or meeting format)," Marks said.
This City Council, with Ladner as president, holds more public comment time than previous councils. The council didn't hold a public comment period at the work sessions until after the Perkins shooting. It also allows for public comments on agenda items and again after the meetings and work sessions.
Previously, a person could speak for three minutes at the council meeting, but Ladner changed public comment so the person would be warned at three minutes to begin wrapping up comments and finish by four minutes. Ladner is usually flexible on time limits.
There has been pressure in the last 19 months, especially from Mayor Tab Bowling, to end the public comment period.
Jackson and Councilman Kyle Pike declined to comment on Ladner's decision to end Monday's meeting. Councilmen Carlton McMasters and Hunter Pepper were absent from the meeting.
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