Over the past year, public attendance at Carefree Town Council meetings has become increasingly political. A group of residents have begun taking organized positions on issues of interest to Carefree residents, sometimes wearing coordinated clothing to identify their positions. Recently there have been incidents where criticism of Town policy or even personal attacks have disrupted the meeting as interjections rather than occurring during the Call to the Public section of the agenda.
Vice Mayor Cheryl Kroyer made a statement during the August Town Council meeting that was intended to communicate a policy that out of order, disruptive comments from the public are not allowed in Council meetings, and that the Council may take action in the future to enforce the rules when good order is threatened. Here are two recent examples of disruptive comments that occurred out-of-order in recent Council meetings:
- After a Call to the Public statement and on his way back to his seat, a speaker told everyone that Councilman D’Alesio “has always been an a**hole” and will never change.
- During Cheryl Kroyer’s reading of a statement concerning the recent property tax special election in the July Town Council meeting, a resident repeatedly shouted that the Vice Mayor was a liar and should be ashamed of herself.
Both outbursts were made by spectators not recognized to speak in that portion of the meetings.
Sonoran News letters to the editor followed, accusing the Vice Mayor of trying to silence opposition opinions in violation of resident’s rights. The Vice Mayor’s response, reproduced below, is published in the digital edition of the Sonoran News, though it is a bit hard to locate on the SN website. We are reproducing it here in the public interest.
Carefree Unity 9/2/2023
Let’s just stop the Gaslighting once and for all…and work together
Once again, those who seek to control the narrative within the community are at it. This time they have wrongfully accused me of trying to silence the public. This intentionally misleading statement is the furthest from the truth.
The fact is, as with all Carefree public meetings, the Town Council has and continues to accept public dialog at all public meetings. Don’t believe me, just watch the Town Council meeting videos: www.carefree.org/boards-and-commissions
As displayed in these public videos, I have always listened to and never interrupted anyone wishing to speak at these meetings.
Recently at our July Council meeting, I was interrupted and threatened by a member of our community. My more recent comments addressed this uncivil, interruptive behavior NOT as the false narrative will have you believe, silence the public. That statement is simply not true.
My commitment to public input is engrained in my representation. As I spoke to residents in the fall of 2022 regarding the provision of fire and emergency services, I invited them to 5 public open houses. I find it ironic that the false narrative which now accuses me of silencing the public refused to share the same information about these past public participation opportunities. Why? Because it did not serve their false agenda.
As your council member and Vice Mayor, as I have shown by all my actions at all Council meetings and in my commitment to public involvement in the community, including issues such as fire and emergency services, that I believe public participation is critical. It is time for the gaslighting from this negative faction to end and for us all to work on solutions together.
Cheryl Kroyer
Council Member and Vice Mayor
Town of Carefree
Carefree Unity 