The extensive media coverage of the decision to remove the media table from the council chambers has resulted in more negative publicity for Fountain Hills. Although efforts will be made to shift the blame, Mayor Friedel should step up and accept full responsibility.
During the May 13 Town Council meeting, in response to Councilmember Kalivianakis’ questions, the town manager advised that the table was removed at the “directive” of the mayor and “several council members.” Friedel would not allow Councilmembers McMahon or Kalivianakis, who were not aware of the directive, to discuss their concerns because the subject was not on the agenda. Friedel denied the councilmembers’ requests to put the decision on the agenda for a future meeting, where it could have been openly discussed and hopefully, reconsidered.
During the May 14 Mayor’s Coffee Friedel, when asked why the table had been removed, represented that the decision was attributable to the fact that other media representatives wanted to use the table and we could not accommodate them all. Friedel was unable to identify a single occasion when the number of media requests to use the table had exceeded its seating capacity.
