Somerset —

A second Somerset city council meeting has been edited for television — and some councilors continue to be upset that individuals’ comments are being censored. Since shortly after Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler took office, city council meetings have been broadcast on cable television’s local access channel on a one-week delay. The meetings had always been run in their entirety, until the June 14 meeting aired with several comments deleted. A handful of councilors complained about the editing, but Mayor Girdler argued that “it’s our responsibility as a city to put a limit on potentially slanderous statements in a publication that is presented by the City of Somerset.” Girdler said only comments that are “personal in nature” would be deleted from the televised versions of council meetings. Following the next council meeting, the televised version once again did not contain some comments made by a citizen and by some council members — and, once again, councilors expressed their concerns about the editing process. “I don’t agree with the editing at all. ... It doesn’t seem right to me,” said council member Pat Bourne. “Perhaps it would be best to eliminate that whole program.” Girdler again stated that unedited copies of the meetings are available through the City Clerk’s office, provided an open records request is filed, and that the purpose of the televised meetings is “to inform the public” — that the broadcasts shouldn’t be used to pass along information about individuals which could be false or malicious. “Once you put something on TV, you’re the producer, and you’re responsible for whatever is aired,” Girdler said. City attorney Carrie Wiese said the city needs to be “very careful” about what information is included in its televised programs. “We have gotten phone calls,” Wiese said, adding that some comments “can be considered defamation.” “For eight years, nobody was even able to make comments during council meetings,” Girdler said. He was referring to the previous administration of JP Wiles, during which citizens were required to be asked to be included on a council meeting’s agenda before they were allowed to approach the council to speak. In other news from Somerset’s city council: • Mayor Girdler said a project on Richards Court designed to control flooding there should be completed soon. The project has been a source of frustration for city councilors and Richards Court residents for several months. Resident Samantha Edwards approached the council with her concerns about the project last month. Edwards claimed that some residents were receiving preferential treatment in the wake of flooding which occurred there in May. Edwards’ basement flooded during heavy rains, and, since the flooding, she has sustained mold damage. City attorney Carrie Wiese says the city is waiting to hear from Edwards’ insurance company before any funds are dispersed by the city. Now that the project is nearing an end, Girdler says flooding will continue to be a problem there. “You can’t eliminate flooding in that area,” he said. “All you can do is try to control the amount of water in those areas.” • The council passed several resolutions which will put the wheels in motion for the city’s next round of scattered site housing projects. Mayor Girdler said 12 to 16 homes will be torn down and rebuilt in the $1 million project. • The council heard the first reading of an ordinance which would revise the city’s pay and classification plan for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. A copy of the plan is available in the city clerk’s office. Changes were made in the police and EMS departments. The council will vote on the ordinance July 26. • Councilor Jerry Wheeldon said he had heard many positive comments about the city’s presentation of SomerBlast 2010 at SomerSplash water park. The event featured live music, water park activities, concessions and fireworks.