Brooklyn Park Council Votes to Censure Member Boyd Morson for Violating City’s Respectful Workplace Policy
The Brooklyn Park City Council voted to censure council member Boyd Morson for misconduct and violating the city’s respectful workplace policy.
The vote came on Monday night, shortly before 10:30 p.m., after the council met in closed session for just over an hour to consider allegations or charges against a council member.
A redacted complaint obtained by CCX News said that a city employee “perceived Council Member Morson’s behavior to be intentionally intimidating. His behavior to me has been often rude and argumentative.” It went on to say that the employee felt “singled out by Council Member Morson personally” and that the “behavior is not welcome or appreciated. It is inappropriate.”
Council member Morson did not respond to our email request for an interview, however Mshale reported that Morson said that “he is a ‘hugger’ and sometimes calls women ‘babe’ during conversations. He claimed some have interpreted it as sexual.”
The article went on to say that Morson claimed “he was being punished for speaking out on behalf of the marginalized in the city” and that “this resolution was an attempt to thwart his mayoral bid in November.”
Council Voted for Attorney to Draft a Resolution Calling for Censure
When the council came back into public session, Mayor Lisa Jacobson directed the city attorney to prepare a resolution for adoption by the city council, censuring council member Boyd Morson based on violations of the city’s respectful workplace policy and elected officials’ code of conduct.
The motion said the resolution should address several points. It said that Morson should be removed from all commissions, committees, task forces, boards and group assignments. It also said that all communication and contact must flow through the city manager with the exception of Economic Development Authority matters that can be directed to the executive director of the EDA with the city manager copied on that email.
The motion also said that Morson shall be provided the opportunity to attend various trainings and said that all emails and public statements verbally and on social media with staff and council colleagues shall be professional and no longer threatening, abusive or disparaging.
The attorney will now draft the resolution with the city council voting on it at the next meeting.
Morson was elected to his first term on the city council in 2020.
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