Proposed change in who can speak at South Fayette Township meetings stirs up controversy
Just weeks after 11 Investigates first told you about an expensive meeting attended by South Fayette Township Commissioners and charged to taxpayers, a proposed change in who can speak at township meetings is stirring up controversy.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 11 Investigates digs into receipts from South Fayette Township government trip to local resort
If adopted, the new rules would require citizens to register to speak by noon on the day of a meeting. It’s a departure from current rules that allow anyone to speak during the allotted “comment” time.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Some neighbors upset by South Fayette Township government using taxpayer money to go to resort
“You’re limiting that to a certain majority of people that have use of the Internet. You are totally excluding the elders in this community that may not have abilities to get to the Internet,” one man said while speaking against the change.
It wasn’t just the change itself, but the timing that had others upset.
“I mean, let’s not kid ourselves. We all know why this is going on tonight,” the man continued.
He’s referring to that costly trip to a hotel and spa on the taxpayer dime.
“I find it to be very coincidental and throws a red flag, I think, for a lot of people,” one woman said. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and I am not buying the timing of the change.”
Receipts show the trip totaled more than $10,000, nearly double that when including consulting fees.
Purchases include a $230 bottle of wine and $85 steaks.
In the end, commissioner Lisa Malosh, the only one who did not attend the spa meeting, moved to table the proposal. It’s unclear when the issue will be discussed, again. Only three of the five commissioners attended Wednesday’s meeting.
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