I would like to acknowledge how gracious the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors was to allow Mr. Tim White, a 20-plus-year employee of the district, the opportunity to speak after his resignation from the firefighters union Local 1889.

What I do not understand is why Mr. White was given this podium at the taxpayers’ expense when other employees are not allowed to speak at any board meetings.

Could it be that Mr. White is doing what most anyone with a family he is responsible for would do?

Mr. White was allowed to speak because it benefited the agenda of this board, which is to take away the pension that was promised and longtime employees have planned their retirement on. This board has made input by anyone opposing them impossible.

In the past, this paper was offended by any violation of the Sunshine Law. Why are you not equally offended by the fact that few if any are allowed their voice now?

If it is wrong to withhold information from the public, the taxpayers, as you have strongly protested, why are you allowing this board to do the same? Allowing a publicly elected board to decide who can and who cannot speak at public meetings is called dictatorship, not a democracy.

Deborah Weingartner

Concord

Editor’s note: Mrs. Weingartner’s husband, Mark, is a Mehlville Fire Protection District paramedic.