Annoyance or Threat?

In 2022, Council president Tom DePietro banished Bill Huston from attending meetings at City Hall in person, allowing him only to attend meetings virtually. Huston's persistent and belligerent manner of interrogating city officials and department heads, which DePietro once declared to be "disorderly conduct," has gotten him ejected from meetings and was the reason for his banishment. Despite that history, Huston was present in person at last night's informal Common Council meeting.

The Council was less than halfway through the night's agenda when an incident involving Huston occurred. The Council had heard the monthly reports from the Youth Department, the Fire Department, and the Police Department. The report from the Police Department included the information that twelve new cameras had been installed on the streets to replace existing cameras. When comments from the audience were invited, Huston asked why there was a camera at Sixth and Columbia streets, demanding to know its purpose. Lieutenant David Miller, who was reporting for the HPD, told him the camera was there to assist the police in solving crimes. Dissatisfied with the answer, Huston continued to question him. When DePietro interrupted him, telling him to stop, Huston protested, asking if his banishment from City Hall was a "lifetime ban." DePietro told him, "Numerous members of the Council have felt personally threatened by you." 

At this point, Miller and a second police officer present at the meeting approached Huston, who appeared disinclined to cooperate and leave the meeting. Then, perhaps at the direction of one of the officers, everyone in the audience rose as one and left the chamber and the building. DePietro then adjourned the meeting, and the councilmembers prepared to leave. Gossips, attending the meeting virtually, does not know how the situation resolved itself.

Gossips has learned that Huston, a relentless and strident critic of conditions of the city, has appeared unexpectedly at councilmembers' homes and places of business to voice his complaints and argue his case. His vigilance seems to have intensified into harassment. He sends emails daily to the mayor and the Common Council, as well as other people in the city's employ. The principal targets of his criticism are the Department of Public Works and the Code Enforcement Office. From time to time, Huston copies Gossips on his emails. Last month, Gossips was copied on an email complaining about the absence of stop bars at several intersections around town. The following is reproduced from that email, much of which was in enlarged type and "shouty caps."

  

Regarding the purpose of the camera at Sixth and Columbia streets, I do recall its purpose. The camera was placed there in response to concerns from residents of the area. At least two cars, maybe more, parked overnight near that corner had been badly damaged or totaled by vehicles driven recklessly through the intersection. The camera was placed there to help identify the miscreants should there be similar incidents in the future.

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