HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-03 25-313 OrderCITY COUNCIL ACTION
Council Meeting Date: 11/03/2025
Item No: 25-313
Responsible Dept: City Council
Requested Action: Order
Title, Order
11/03/2025 25-313
Map/Lot: N/A
Censuring City Councilor Joseph Leonard For Inappropriate Public Gesture and Action at 10/27/25 City Council
Meeting
Summary
This Order would censure Councilor Joseph Leonard for an inappropriate public gesture and action
he made at the October 27, 2025 regular City Council meeting.
At the October 27, 2025 regular City Council meeting and while conducting the City's business at the
dais, Councilor Leonard raised his middle finger toward, and threw his pen across the room in the
direction of, a member of the public in attendance at the meeting. This disrespectful behavior is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Council. City Council members are required to act with
civility and preserve order and decorum during City Council meetings, and to maintain a standard of
conduct that will inspire public confidence in the integrity of the City's government.
Section 33-1 of the City's Code of Ethics requires that City Councilors maintain a standard of conduct
that will inspire public confidence in the integrity of the City's government. Section 3C of the City
Council Guidelines, which have been adopted by the Council as a City policy, require Council
members to act with civility and preserve order and decorum during municipal meetings. Section 5
of the City Council Guidelines provides that the proper operation of democratic government requires
that City Councilors maintain a standard of conduct that will inspire public confidence in the integrity
of the City's government. Councilor Leonard's gesture and action fell well short of these required
standards of conduct.
Committee Action
Committee:
Action:
Staff Comments & Approvals
2
City Manager
Introduced for: New Business
Meeting Date:
For: Against:
City Solicitor
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Finance Director
CITY OF BANGOR ORDER
Date: 11/03/2025
Item No: 25-313
Assigned to Councilor: Fournier
11/03/2025 25-313
Censuring City Councilor Joseph Leonard For Inappropriate Public Gesture and Action at 10/27/25 City Council
Meeting
WHEREAS, At the October 27, 2025 regular City Council meeting and while conducting the City's business at
the dais, Councilor Leonard raised his middle finger toward, and threw his pen across the room in the
direction of, a member of the public in attendance at the meeting; and
WHEREAS, This disrespectful behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Council; and
WHEREAS, Section 33-1 of the City's Code of Ethics requires that City Councilors maintain a standard of
conduct that will inspire public confidence in the integrity of the City's government; and
WHEREAS, Section 3C of the City Council Guidelines, which have been adopted by the Council as a City policy,
require Council members to act with civility and preserve order and decorum during municipal meetings; and
WHEREAS, Section 5 of the City Council Guidelines provides that the proper operation of democratic
government requires that City Councilors maintain a standard of conduct that will inspire public confidence in
the integrity of the City's government; and
WHEREAS, Councilor Leonard's actions fell well short of these standards of conduct.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT,
City Councilor Joseph Leonard is hereby formally censured for his inappropriate gesture and action described
above that he made at the October 27, 2025 regular City Council meeting.
IN CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 3, 2025
CO 25-313
Motion made and seconded for Passage
Motion made to Postpone
Motion Died for Lack of Second
Vote on Passage: 5 —2
Councilors Voting Yes: Deane, Fish, Hawes, Tremble, Fournier
Councilors Voting No: Beck, Mallar
Passed
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CITY CLERK