Letter writer had myopic view

Recently Bonnie Rubin wrote a letter to the editor about the behavior of Vernon Township Council members at their meetings. While I agree with Ms. Rubin that council members should use appropriate language, be civil, and maintain decorum at all meetings, I find Ms. Rubin’s view myopic at best.

Ms. Rubin criticizes three of the council members but says nothing of the deplorable behavior displayed by Councilwoman Jean Murphy meeting after meeting. Ms. Murphy is constantly rude and antagonistic, baselessly accusing the other council members, ridiculing them, and openly laughing at them and scoffing. Never did she exemplify this kind of behavior more than at the Oct. 27 meeting of the Vernon Township Council, which everyone can view for themselves on YouTube.

At many meetings since Ms. Murphy took office on Jan. 1, she is acrimonious and antagonistic, ridicules the mayor and council, and actually laughs openly and mockingly at them in a loud manner. She rudely interrupts the other council members who are speaking, even after she has been given ample time to speak or voice her opinions.

It's interesting that Ms. Rubin mentions nothing whatsoever about Ms. Murphy’s behavior but rather invokes some kind of statement on women’s rights, implying Ms. Murphy is a poster child of male abuse when in reality it is always Ms. Murphy who initiates the bullying, harassment, and ridicule and antagonizes the councilmen. While Bonnie Rubin attempts to create a “poor little woman” perception of Ms. Murphy, in reality it is Ms. Murphy who is abusive to the mayor and councilmen, and I think they show great restraint and civility in the face of her constant baseless accusations and her mocking demeanor.

Ms. Murphy should surely speak her mind and be heard, raise as many questions as she’d like, and challenge anything she wishes — as a good government representative should — but she needs to start doing it with civility and decency. She needs to exercise a modicum of decorum, as is appropriate for government meetings. Residents who attend the meetings don’t want to constantly hear her ridicule and argumentative and abusive behavior.

Her behavior has changed the whole tone and tenor of Vernon Township Council meetings. She has taken us back to the shouting, insulting, and gavel-pounding council meetings we had in 2010 and early 2011 before we changed the form of government. Please, Ms. Murphy, change your behavior. Vernon’s government and its citizens deserve no less.

Jessi Paladini
Highland Lakes