No, sometimes the elected officials need to listen. If, and only if, a citizen uses foul language or becomes a threat do you quick hook them. It seems that Smyrna over the past has tried to silence the citizen input part. They tried but couldn't so the citizen unput was scheduled for the end, making citizens(who are the voters) wait.

Most citizens are respectful, whether they agree or disagree with the council. As I always say, you don't have to like the person, but you should always respect the position. But then there are the few rare cases where a Citizen is rude, makes personal attacks against the council, and is very abusive. You bet I think those Citizens that don't know how to act appropriately should have their time cut short. I have seen many, many council meetings and have never seen anyone on the Council be abusive to the Citizens of Smyrna. I have seen the Council get a little frustrated with a Citizen that continued talking long after their time was over and was very rude and abusive to the Council. Our elected officials shouldn't have to put up with that.

I have seen several citizens that ask questions, aren't happy with the answers and continue to badger our elected officials stating they refuse to answer. We are not going to like every official, every decision or every answer, but that does not give anyone the right to harass our officials. If you don't like an elected official, then vote against them. The majority of the voters chose these officials. They deserve our respect. You obviously don't agree with me. That's your right. But that's how I was raised and how (I hope) I've raised my children.

Well the first change that occurred was about 4 years ago, When the Citizens comments took the meeting well into the NEXT DAY 1:00am for the meeting to get over. There where corporate attorney's getting paid by the hour and quite frankly, if you pay any attention at all to the meeting, The Mayor and Counsel let people run over there time all the time. that is them being nice... I could not Sit and listen to Donna Short Woodham talk about history of a lake that was there, and now is not there and they didn't want the property, and then they bought it? and the road to McDonald's loops around the cherry tree? Are you kidding? and she still got more time.. They listen You just don't like there answer. I believe Donna's answer was, I have no idea what your talking about...and he was right...Have your act together before you speak!

Any townsperson coming before this authority w/ questions , or dare speak a word of disagreement or disappointment of his kingdom, should be immediately silenced , removed & escourted to the guillotine.

....yes, one day we will wake up, look around & understand we are free, no more!

What we are suffering through in the city of Smyrna is a government that is arrogant, uninterested & disengaged.

They were very interested and engaged at the meeting. You seem to be the one that is arrogant and don't think the rules should apply to you or your friends. Your actions at at the last City Council Meeting further prove that. And despite your disregard for the rules, the Mayor and Council were still nothing short of professional and courteous. You could learn a lot from them.

Hunt, please be aware that I am being stalked by Rio & George Lee. It is very unsettling to me that they relentlessly attack my every comment that I make directed to & concerning the city that I reside in & pay taxes in & tho' they seem to have a problem w/ me personally, they refuse to address me in person, and continue to make unprovoked attacks from behind aliases & computer screens. I have never done anything to these two & am getting quite weary of their harrasment. They say they don't work for the city, but their constant detail of every meeting, all community events , every step I make & every breath I take... begs one to wonder just what their agenda is. As a private citizen, their tactics border on harrasment .
Nevertheless, I will continue to afford my right to address my elected officials.
I would appreciate if you would look into this. Thank-you.

When people post in an open forum such as this Don't they realize that they open themselves up for comments of others who use this site ? When people attend council meetings that are televised don't they realize that they will be on television and will be seen ? Don't people who speak at televised council meetings realize that they open themselves up for comments from the viewers ? This site is in no way affiliated with the City of Smyrna. I have never seen the Mayor or the city manager post anything on here. I have seen one councilperson post on this site and they didn't have to. I have made many post on here and have been responded to by people that I did not ask to respond, but I surely expected it. I think we all know how the system here at Patch works and now, after months and months of posting negative comments someone is shocked by getting responses from readers ? This from a person who has accused me of being everything from a city employee to a paid associate of Max Bacon. My agenda on here is to write what I know to be the truth. I also learn alot about the city and its' neighborhood activities. If you put yourself out in public, then you have done just that. No one is forced to write or participate in any form on here. If you want to talk to the Mayor or any councilman their e-mail addresses are posted on WWW.SMYRNACITY.COM. This site is an open, public forum, not a city owned or controlled site.

No one is stalking anyone. MK showed her obvious disregard to follow the rules. And it also proved my point that our Council does not try to silence anyone. MK does not address the facts, she whines and cries that she's being stalked? You were at a Public Meeting that was televised. No one is stalking you. I am a private citizen that pays attention. That is what scares you. Your twisted misrepresentation of the facts don't work with me. LC, no one is attacking Mary, but Mary's constant harrassment of our elected officials, forces us to defend the people we voted for.

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You have every opportunity to attack me in person, instead of behind your aliases!
Smyrna govenment RULES its citizens instead of working WITH citizens!
It is disrespectful for the city to not allow citizens to participate in how OUR money is spent & what our city is becoming!
I sit & watch Smyrna Heights DECLINE!
I see the Market Village- almost EMPTY!
I see South Cobb Drive & Windy Hill look like they did in 1960.
$43 million dollars of the 2005 SPLOST-has been squandered. And all the money that has gone into design & engineering & 'connectivity study' & 'program management' has all shown total disrespect to the citizens of Smyrna
Pritckett states Argle was a top school in the '70's.
Max has been around, allowing all the city elementary schools to become delapidated & at the bottom of the ranking.
By design?? You have to wonder!
Max has done nothing to address the run down conditions along South Cobb & the 5 Points area.
If I were a business in that 'forgotten' business park, I'd be packing up & looking for a quality city for my business.
Something is wrong in a city that takes 8,2 million to do an improvements project,.. but destroys a neighborhood in the process & doesn't even have a TEMPORARY plan?
Go see how awesome Woodstock looks now! And all the buisnesses & lofts that are thriving. Did you know the developer that was connected to Belmont Hills got out (just in time) & went & developed Woodstock Downtown?
There is no honesty in Smyrna!

L.C. There you go not reading what is written just trying to bend things to your own agenda. I clearly stated that if anyone wanted to go to the city website it is at WWW.SMYRNACITY.COM. Yes, that site is owned by the city. Patch is not owned or controlled by the city. Sorry that you didn't understand what was written. People maqy have been signing in for others at the city council meetings long before Mary did it but that doesn't make it right. It clearly states at the top of the form that you may not sign in for another person. She got caught and called on it. How embarrassing for her. Maybe she will not break the rules anytimes she sees fit. Sitting in the audience and yelling up at the Mayor like that. I can't believe that she wasn't thrown out right then.

I AM doing something about it!
That is why I am IN FRONT of a microphone- to ADDRESS the issues! The more they ignore me- THE MORE THE TRUTH COMES OUT!
You both have nothing better to do than march lock step behind FAILED policies!
Keep cheering! You look FOOLISH!
Maybe you'll shoot fireworks when Market Village becomes 100% EMPTY!

Why is the Mayor responsible for our elementary schools getting old ? That is teh responsibility of our school board. Now if you want to look at actual waste of money going on then there is your starting point. The Market Village being empty should be addressed to th eowners of that. When your own neighborhood is in decline you should be looking at your own backyard. Did you know that developer that was connected to Belmont Hills was working with Jack Halpern not the city of Smyrna ? If someone truely had proof that SPLOST money was spent illegally then that should be taken to the Grand Jury to be investigated, but it won't be because it is simply not true. Keep ranting about the same old things. You truely look foolish. If you have proof take action. If not just keep crying day in and day out,

MK. downing your City leaders on a microphone is not taking action. Its not doing anything to help better your neighborhood or it's surrounding area. What you are doing is called complaining. In your case it seems to be complaining without any positive actions for improvement.

yes I never seen Bob Villa plug a mic in a house and it improve itself!

We just took a ride around Smyrna. Horrible, cluttered MESS! Period!
No EXCUSE!!
It's a disaster! And the city wants to SILENCE the people that LIVE HERE & KNOW what makes a city livable!
No Trees, jumbled up clutter EVERYWHERE! There is no beauty!! We live in this place & every effort should be made to give us quality of life! There is nothing that says Smyrna is being run properly!
If I had a nice business,... this would be the LAST place I'd invest in!
The conditions, from Spring Rd. up through Concord, along Atlanta Rd to Windy Hill, back down South Cobb-- looks like a freakin' tornado struck!
There is NO CONCERN from any city officials , reguarding the looks & economic conditions here!
I can only hope a new group will get into office-- but even so,.. it will take a good 15-20 years to turn around the damage that has been done!
I am just a citizen-- not a whole lot I can do ,... but try to hold elected officials ACCOUNTABLE!
Ignoring citizens only shows their UNaccountability!
It's a new day baby- it's time the Smyrna citizens speak out & be heard!

M.K. You helping your good friend, Donna Short Woodham, "If I had a nice business,... this would be the LAST place I'd invest in! Awesome this will get the voters in! I Posted not long after you..I must be stalking!

It is a heck of a thing for an elected official or unelected bureaucrat to have to listen for a few minutes to an American citizen who pays their salaries and pays for all their glorious projects.

The county attorney is named Bishop. Why not email her (this includes the Patch editor) and ask for the written policy and law?

Is it constitutional?

Will someone be silenced and then arrested for waving his arms too much?

How about speaking too loudly or too forcibly?

What if someone says, "Man, I am really, really mad about wasteful government spending!" Does that constitute a threat?

When the ACLU gets involved it should get really, really interesting.

I can tell you about people silenced in Douglas County, James Bell and James Quarterman.

I was referring to the new pronouncement in the mdj yesterday. What will be the rules? Ask the commissioners and county attorney.

I thought you were talking about Smyrna.. let guide you to your correct location....
http://douglasville.patch.com/

Bruce is on the right Patch. He is responding to what this article is about,..concering what happened w/ Craig Harfoot 's exchange w/ Tim Lee at commission mtg. 2 weeks ago!
Thanks Bruce.
Do you have any links about James & James & events of being silenced in Douglasville?

SOME people enjoy expanding their knowledge. Bruce, let us know about Douglasville , please. Maybe , by learned experience, it won't be repeated here in Cobb.
Don't let these folks bully you into not expressing your thoughts. Unfortunately, it has been a real problem here.

No one here is trying to Bully anyone Mary. Why are you always trying to pick a fight? It gets tiring.

There you go,...again... you can't seem to stop,... you are totally obsessed w/ me!! Why don't you just leave me alone?
I am interested in how this city is run.
I, as well as others, might be interested to what happenerd reguarding this (silencing) issue, to our neighbors to the west.(Douglasville)
You clearly tried to discourage that converstion w/ Bruce continuing.

I am not familiar with the Douglas County incident referred to. Did a quick search and could not find anything about but would be interested if someone can provide a link. As far as County Attorney Dorothy Bishop and the county commissioners, we will reach out and see if we can get a more clear interpretation as to what is meant by this.

If people are dissatisfied with the current government they should organize to have someone else elected or run for office themselves. The problem with local government is apathy. 95% of Smyrna residents couldn't tell you who the Mayor is, who their city council member is, or even what ward they reside in. It's up to the people to change things for the better or just let those with the power keep it. Actions people, actions.

" Not everyone knows everthing that's happening in The Jonquil City ", But they surely don't mind making up their own little stories. The statement that the mayor isn't the only person with power couldn't be any more correct. Actually the Mayor has little power, but to some on here he is responsible for everything wrong from the economy to failed developments. If Mayor Bacon has all of this power and responsibility then he is highly underpaid.

Failed developments aren't necessarily the result of failed leadership, but if I had the resources I might manage things a little differently. For instance I would probably do some serious market research and see what people want to see in the Smyrna Market village and then target businesses to move there that would succeed. Then after the market village is successful convince developers that they could have similar success at the Jonquil village. While I understand that these are private developments the people and the owners of the property would be happier. As it stands, vacant, these areas don't stand to help anyone or the community as a whole. That's just one example and I'm not blaming the current administration, I'm just saying that with proper prioritization and management little project and developments could result in big returns for the city.

Thank you John. I respect and understand your feelings on this, as I also somewhat agree. The key to the revitilazation is of course resources. When an administration is operating under survival mode resources are of course harder to come by. Should a governemt make cuts in the Public Safety faction to fund marketing for private industry ? With that being said I fully understand that the more successful these businesses become it benfits the entire community. And I am impling that was your point, i'm just using a practical example. The city of Smyrna is operating currently on a bare bones budget. The citizens could form committees that actually utilize the resources that we have. These committees could contact businesses from outside the community and and let them know that there is an interest in them and inform them of all the positives that Smyrna has to offer. Cities definitely need community support and volunteerism now more than ever.

Sorry for the typo. It should have read I am not implying.

I would love to see the Market Village with no vacancies. I've heard the landlords charge a very high rent and in this economy, new tenants are hard to come by. I would hope the city has approached these owners and tried to plead the case of, "lower rent is better than no rent", but I have no idea if that's happened or not. I do feel our current City leaders have done a great job running our City during such a long economic struggle.