Uncalled For

Brent at work sent me a link to a Post-Bulletin article detailing an exchange from one of the councilmen who I despise and a builder.  Since the P-B flushes articles over a certain age, here's the text:

A testy exchange between a Rochester City Council member and a spokesman for the Rochester Area Builders organization at a recent public hearing prompted a demand for a public apology.

"I feel that was uncalled for," said Jay Burke of the Nov. 1 exchange between council member Michael Wojcik and Tony Lehrman, who represents the builders group.

Lehrman had told the city council about the builders group's opposition to a proposed ordinance requiring streetside trees be planted in new developments. Wojcik peppered Lehrman with pointed questions for a few minutes before council President Dennis Hanson put a stop to the exchange. The ordinance eventually passed on a 4-3 council vote.

Burke, who owns a building company, Heartwood Homes, and has served on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission and Energy Commission, described Wojcik's actions as violating "proper decorum" for public officials. He sent a letter to the city Friday and spoke to the city council Monday.

Burke said the exchange left several audience members, and even a few city council members he said confided in him, feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed. Read about it in Tuesday's print edition.