The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Brookville Tea Party draws controversy

Multiple cases of teacher misconduct a wakeup call for Northmont
Updated 12 min. ago
Ferguson attempts suicide after being found guilty on all 32 counts
10:05 a.m.
Seasonal flu shots to resume Monday
9:55 a.m.
Neighbors still trying  to recover from fatal fire
11/20/09
Churches want end to ‘shooting and killing’
11/20/09
> More headlines

By Kevin O’Boyle, Contributing Writer 1:49 PM Thursday, June 11, 2009

BROOKVILLE — The anticipated Tea Party event, scheduled for July 3 at the city’s Golden Gate Park, drew the ire of an opponent of the event.

“I am against the Tea Party coming to our park,” Charlotte Szabo said at the Tuesday, June 2, City Council meeting. “That is our park and I don’t want them in our park.”

Szabo’s objections to the event stemmed from her opinion that the event’s organizers held Republican Party viewpoints.

“This is not a Democratic or Republican event,” Mayor Dave Seagraves said. “They are people who want a voice calling for smaller government.”

The event planners are expecting several thousand people to attend the event. Organizers have scheduled about two hours of speakers, similar to an event held April 15 in Dayton.

The July 3 event will be capped off by an evening fireworks display.

Law Director Rod Stephan explained to Szabo that the city could not discriminate against the event’s organizers.

“I believe anyone who wants to use the park, submits valid permits, and pays the appropriate costs, we cannot discriminate on any grounds, be it race, religion, or even political affiliation,” Stephan said.

Stephan said the main factor in limiting any public property use in Brookville is public safety.

Dave Monnin of the Park Board said the organizers, Dayton Tea Party Inc. will pay the city for all expenses incurred at the event, including the costs of the fireworks, and that the event represents “an amount of people coming to Brookville spending money here that would not have happened otherwise.”

“The Park Board (members) are doing their jobs,” Seagraves said. “What I want to make sure is we are not in a discriminating position. You can be against the (viewpoints of the organizers), and that is your right.”

City Manager John Wright said he met with event organizers June 1, and the anticipated costs to the city for the event will be between $3,500 and $4,000.

“They had no problem with that,” Wright said.

He said a special-use permit signed by the organizers spells out that they are liable for all costs to the city. He said Dayton was paid in full by event organizers for the April 15 event.

Police Chief Ed Preston said 10 uniformed Brookville officers will be on-hand, and he anticipated obtaining six uniformed Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies.

He said neighboring police jurisdictions may be called on for further assistance, and security details from the event organizers include many off-duty police officers.

In other business, Preston said that his department had stepped-up patrols in the uptown area, trying to prevent some disturbances that occurred there last summer.

He said police had received calls of some disturbances occurring elsewhere in the city, but those calls came after the fact.

“If people see something going on, they need to call us right away, so we can deal with it then,” Preston said.

A resolution calling for an increase in the mayor’s salary was approved, but not before much discussion.

Currently, the mayor is paid $3,500 per year. The new salary, effective Jan. 1, 2010, would be $5,000.

Councilman Darrell Reel said in light of the current economy, it is a bad time to be raising public servants’ pay rates. Councilman Ron Ullery pointed out the city charter stipulates the council must act on this matter only in odd-numbered years, and prior to July 1 of those years.

Councilman Chuck Letner supported the pay raise. “I think the mayor is the ‘ultimate’ ambassador for the city, and I support this,” he said.

The next meeting of City Council will be June 16 at the Brookville Municipal Building, 301 Sycamore St.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Attended Brookville Tea Party Rally, saw nothing but Americans concerned for methodical destruction of freedoms our ancestors died for. Except for a few 'truthers', who were politely declined, there wasn't antisemitism or anti-anything but against abuses of this administration and party in power. High points: young Honduran woman spoke with passion of one who sees corrupt govt can take over; history lesson of Declaration Signers, invitations to be informed and vocal & write your congressman!

Beth
1:16 PM, 7/4/2009

REPORT ABUSE

In my local paper, an Obama voter and supporter put it this way, "Today, it’s more state secrets, sovereign immunity, illegal wiretapping, secret visitors log for the White House, more money for war(s), protecting Wall Street and bankers bonuses and indefinite detention for whomever."

I am seeing this more and more from his supporters. It's more of the same. Isn't that the slogan the Left used to describe McCain?

Good luck my friend. We're all going to need it.

Rich Mannion
10:49 AM, 7/4/2009

REPORT ABUSE

not a student of history,
Don't hide behind a moniker if you are going to make such inflamitory accusations. As for your comment about Bush starting the the bailouts. You are correct. I know I was ticked along with millions of other Conservatives. But you want to put President Obama on this pedistal. He had a chance to stop the TARP in it's tracks when he became president. He didn't. He has had the chance to stop the wiretapping, and war spending and hasn't. Continued.....

Rich Mannion
10:42 AM, 7/4/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I'm totally thrown by the title of the article - I would not consider one person voicing opposition as controversy. This is definitely not about political affiliation, it's about liberty and freedom, about smaller government and less taxes, about a capitalistic, constitutional republic versus socialism leading to communism.

Gary
5:18 PM, 7/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

not a student of history, please attend the tea party and learn about America and her history. You will learn what a wonderful country this. You will learn of the founders struggle for freedom from tyranny. You will walk away with a true understanding and appreciation of the July 4th celebration that happens each year. Celebrating our independence our freedom from being ruled by elite. You will come away with an understanding of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Leslie
12:12 PM, 7/1/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 116 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.