Letter: Board should show respect, too

When reviewing the Daily Herald Editorial Board's Opinion article "Let's abandon hysteria," it's clear that little is ever accomplished by personal and disrespectful attacks. The Editorial Board is correct to highlight this behavior as destructive, especially during this sensitive time of the Bears' possible relocation to Arlington Park.

However, the Editorial Board failed to mention that, after that public attendee expressed her opinion, along with the village president as the presiding officer, he allowed village trustees to publicly and personally attack her comments, as well. Also, this behavior was tacitly approved of by the total silence from the other village trustees.

It may seem to be appropriate for the village board to respond as such to a perceived offensive remark by a public attendee. But, the goal here is to abandon hysteria not to simultaneously create even more and to discourage democratic public participation on this matter.

Robert's Rules of Order is the village board's designated parliamentary authority and it is stated in the Arlington Heights Municipal Code. It has the procedure for diffusing these types of situations. All comments, questions, or rebuttals from the board or from the public must be respectfully directed to the presiding officer only. This protocol removes the personal nature of a pointed response to a trustee or to the public.

Also, this allows the presiding officer to objectively and calmly weigh the merits of any comment or remark prior to further consideration.

In my opinion, the village board and public attendees alike would do well to follow this basic rule of respect. Especially, when serious divisions of opinion may arise, as will certainly occur regarding the Bears' possible relocation to our community.

Keith Moens

Arlington Heights