Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
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Apology
After a heated exchange at June 11 utilities committee meeting, Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin offered an apology Tuesday to the city council and the public for “speaking out of turn and so forth.”
McMenamin was repeatedly gaveled down by the utilities committee chairman, Ward 1 Ald. Chuck Redpath, who did not recognize him to speak. The exchange came after McMenamin brought up campaign contributions to aldermen from a coal company, and then Ward 10 Ald. Ralph Hanauer accused McMenamin of being a member of the Sierra Club (he’s not). In an interview, Hanauer had said he was sorry for his “explosion.”
McMenamin also specifically mentioned Redpath and utilities committee vice chair Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner in his apology. He said decorum was an “important topic” and alluded to Turner’s request for the city attorney to look at rules that would allow the city council to punish an alderman for disorderly conduct.
“I’ve attended 400 meetings during my time,” McMenamin said. “I don’t recall that happening before, and just one time is unacceptable.”
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 