Gale blasts colleagues for minutes debacle

Arkoosh, Lawrence adopt June meeting transcripts sans ‘addendum’

NORRISTOWN » A routine agenda item involving the approval of minutes from a Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting last week drew the ire of Commissioner Joe Gale.

“I’m appalled, absolutely appalled what is happening in Montgomery County. My first amendment rights are being violated time and time again,” Gale said during the virtual meeting on July 9.

The contention stemmed from a Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting last month during which Gale requested to include his “addendum submission” in the minutes.

Chief Operating Officer Lee Soltysiak said during the previous meeting that it consisted of a “transcription of the remarks that were made during opening comments” and “other public comment.”

In the June 4 opening commissioners comments which Gale copied in his proposed addendum, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh offered updates relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary election and recognizing June as Pride Month. She also initiated local legislation denouncing a racially charged statement issued by Gale on June 1.

“This item is a resolution of censure which our county solicitor has informed me is the most that commissioners can do under Pennsylvania law to condemn Commissioner Gale’s statements and actions,” Arkoosh said during the June 4 meeting.

Lawrence did not address Gale’s words during his opening comments, instead giving a status report on the primary election and issuing a “resolution recognizing the staff of the Office of Children and Youth.”