The River Falls Common Council censured member Ben Plunkett at its meeting Tuesday, August 11 after receiving several complaints from citizens of River Falls and elsewhere in relation to some of Plunkett’s behavior toward citizens. First though, Plunkett had some comments on a comprehensive plan and future land use map.

“Mr. Plunkett, you had something you’d like to say?” Mayor Dan Toland acknowledged the newly elected Alderperson. Plunkett voiced his thoughts.

“Yes, we’re looking at the plan presented here,” he said. “There are parts here that I am in favor of. I’m very impressed with the amount of open space and protected land easement that’s put in here. And in 124 acres that will be long-term, something that has the potential for making a much larger regional park system in that area. So that part I’m very impressed with….there is an absolute need if we want to maintain a functional downtown business district to recognize that we have a capacity load and traffic issues with people getting from where they are to that business district.” It wasn’t his remarks on land development that Plunkett was censured for, however. Later on in the August 11 meeting, Plunkett was censured under Resolution 6506, motion by Scott Morrissette and seconded by Bjerstedt. The Council had a virtual roundtable discussion beforehand where members expressed the sentiments they had or had heard from others on Plunkett’s behavior.

“So the next thing on our agenda is to censure council member Ben Plunkett,” Toland announced of the meeting agenda. “So before we get started I have a couple words for introducing this,” he said. “Before and after the last council meeting, members of the community expressed their outrage over Mr. Plunkett’s interaction with some citizens. Of particular note were multiple complaints of the language used with one resident and a comment some perceived as threatening of the liquor license. I asked the city attorney for an opinion on possible discipline of elected officials in office, including removal.” Toland then directed the city attorney to draft a resolution on his behalf to present to the council. If passed, Toland said the resolution would acknowledge that the council member’s behavior did not meet the expectations of the council for its members.

In virtual roundtable discussion, the council members gave their various opinions on the censure resolution and Plunkett’s behavior.

Morrissette said that after serving with 20 to 25 people over the years there had always been differences of opinion, but that it was never personal, threatening, or contentious. The residents of the city expected council members to be civil and polite and Morrissette did not feel Plunkett’s comments were anywhere near able to help heal that divisiveness.

Christopher Gagne weighed in next, saying that people had called his cell phone not just from River Falls but other communities as well. “What is going on in River Falls?” he said was the gist of the comments. Gagne didn’t think Plunkett’s actions were professional or responsible, and that some words used were vulgar. Plunkett then countered Gagne by saying that at no point had he sworn, cursed, or used profanity. Gagne said he didn’t think people should act the way they had on Plunkett’s social media, but that they weren’t on City Council.

Todd Bjerstedt shared that he was really disappointed, while Diane Odeen said that expectations of public officials helped to get things done. Plunkett then said he found inappropriate a newspaper article that day about residents and staff testing positive at Comforts of Home, while Gagne said he felt Plunkett was getting off topic. In response to the Mayor asking if he had something to say about the resolution, Plunkett said that he was addressing the behavior that had led to death and the spreading of contagion in the community. Sean Downing said that Plunkett had reasonably said what he should have before without calling any names, and that local government was capable of following ethics codes that state and federal employees failed at miserably. Watson shared that the example set on City Council was followed by constituents in the community. The Mayor said that Plunkett was free to share his opinion on a mask ordinance two council members wanted, but not in the way he had previously done so and that the Council wouldn’t tolerate it.

Upon the end of the round table, the vote on Resolution 6506 to censure Mr. Plunkett passed 6-0, with Plunkett abstaining as is was directed at him and it would therefore not be appropriate for him to vote on.