The Carmi City Council held their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday evening in the absence of Mayor Stendeback. Council member Doug Hays was appointed as mayor pro ten to chair the proceedings. The primary focus of the meeting was a contentious public debate regarding the Mayor’s recent hiring of an outside law firm to handle a reported surge in FOIA requests, as well as a proposed “decorum ordinance” 1691, which critics argue is overly restrictive and potentially unconstitutional. Several citizens expressed deep frustration over what they see as a lack of transparency by the council, the City’s refusal to answer direct questions, and the perceived influence of city attorney Greg Stewart over council members.
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