OBSERVER file photo Fredonia Village Hall.

The people of Fredonia lost their ability to speak at village trustee meetings Monday, though only some familiar critics bothered to complain.

Mayor Michael Ferguson broke a 2-2 Board of Trustees tie on a measure that “suspends the public portion of the meeting until further notice effective immediately.” The resolution stated that “previously allowed public comment…has created a safety issue within the meeting.”

Trustees Ben Brauchler and Paul Wandel voted for the suspension, and Trustees LeeAnn Lazarony and Christine Cruz Keefe voted against it. Wandel sponsored the resolution to suspend the comments.

Brauchler said he seconded the resolution “with the understanding, of course, that you can submit written comments, as some folks have. It’s the same ability to comment that you have at town of Pomfret meetings.”

Brauchler’s statement about Pomfret is untrue, at least as witnessed by the OBSERVER. Every recent Pomfret Town Board meeting has included a section set aside for public comment.

Ferguson broke the trustees’ tie, without comment. Former Village Attorney Samuel Drayo, who just authored a commentary in the OBSERVER calling for the public comments to remain, made sure to voice his displeasure.

Ferguson had to break the tie because the Board of Trustees still does not have a fifth member in the wake of Jon Espersen’s resignation. There was no discussion at Monday’s meeting about filling the open seat.

Another regular Village Hall critic who bashed the comments suspension was Andrew Ludwig. He insisted that Treasurer Erlyssa LeBeau read out his letter against the suspension.

“Our thin skinned mayor doesn’t like being corrected, fact checked or criticized for his missteps. He especially does not like being criticized for his lack of transparency by his board majority and his restriction of free speech,” Ludwig declared.

Ludwig also praised Lazarony, both for halting a prior “illegal executive session” vote on the comments, and for supporting the inclusion of comments in the meetings. The “Save Our Reservoir” firebrand suggested that supporting an end to public commenting at village meetings is “un-American.”

Ludwig predicted that “the mayor and certain board members will likely continue their fear-mongering and make the false claims that the public comments session of board meetings has become dangerous because of some unruly citizens acting improperly and out of order.” He then claimed that it is Ferguson and his supporters who do not behave. Ludwig has himself repeatedly shouted side comments at other speakers during previous meetings, defending it as “passion.”

Ludwig concluded that if the trustees suspended comments, “Save Our Reservoir” would hold its own public comment sessions after the meetings end.