Scranton council president apologizes for not stopping derogatory remarks
Smurl's apology that opened council's meeting Tuesday came in response to comments the prior week by resident Bob Bolus opposing having the rainbow flag flying at City Hall for Pride Month, as well as other remarks Bolus directed at a pro-LGBTQ resident, Angela Ramone, who was in attendance at that meeting.
The events also resulted in several other residents attending Tuesday's council meeting to express support for LGBTQ people and condemn hate speech, according to an Electric City Television simulcast and video of the weekly meeting posted online.
According to ECTV videos and minutes of council meetings, preceding events at council meetings included:
April 29: Ramone advocated for LGBTQ protections and challenged council members to voice support for them.
May 13: Ramone expressed opposition to a bill in the state Legislature that would ban transgender athletes from competing in sports in the state and 'require genital inspections for any player that is accused of being transgender, specifically playing in women's sports. This bill is incredibly, incredibly invasive and disgusting and hurtful.'
May 27: Bolus spoke about his efforts and intent to run for mayor of Scranton. Ramone noted a prior Bolus felony conviction makes him ineligible to serve as city mayor.
June 3: Noting June is Pride Month, Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild said having a rainbow pride flag raised on June 1 on a City Hall flagpole was a great way to have the LGBTQ community feel welcome and a part of the city. Bolus spoke directly to Ramone, who was seated in the gallery, as having made false comments the prior week about Bolus that 'disparaged' his name. He warned Ramone against battling him and 'mouthing off about me.' Bolus then called the pride flag raised June 1 at City Hall a 'slap in the face' to veterans and likened it to an affront to the 'Rule of God,' among various other remarks. Ramone reminded council of its rules prohibiting anyone speaking during public comment from addressing any individual council or audience member, and asked that council enforce its rules. Resident Doris Koloski said she's glad the pride flag is being flown and it wouldn't be needed 'if people didn't act like Mr. Bolus.' Resident Norma Jeffries said no one has a right at council 'to degrade or bash' anyone because of who they are, and chastised Smurl for not gaveling down Bolus. Councilman Bill King agreed with Koloski and Jeffries and told Smurl he needs 'to start using that gavel because our rules were violated and it's not acceptable.'
On June 6, Smurl submitted to council a letter of apology that he read aloud at Tuesday's meeting.
'I understand a lot of hateful statements were made and some were directed towards speakers and council members. It is my job as council president to not allow hateful and derogatory remarks to be directed at any one individual. As council president, I take full responsibility for not doing my job to maintain order at last week's meeting. I apologize for not performing my job properly,' Smurl's apology said in part. 'Going forward, I will fulfill my duties that I promised to uphold when I was sworn in as council president.'
Scranton city councilman Gerald Smurl walks out of council chambers at Scranton City Hall before a council meeting in 2022.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, Bolus said, 'I make no excuse for last week.' He read a lengthy statement that noted Rothchild on June 3 expressed opinions about Pride Month and the pride flag and he should be allowed to express his opinions. As his speaking time ran out, Bolus was saying he filed a lawsuit to have the pride flag removed from City Hall.
Bolus filed that lawsuit Friday in Lackawanna County Court on a pro-se basis, meaning representing himself without an attorney. This lawsuit as a 'mandamus petition for extraordinary relief' sought to compel the removal of the pride flag from City Hall, as well as having it barred from display there and at all public buildings in the county. Also on Friday, Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon dismissed Bolus' lawsuit on various procedural errors, including that he did not properly file or serve the action or name defendants. Nealon dismissed the case 'without prejudice,' meaning Bolus could try to do it again properly.
Bob Bolus Sr. (COURTESY OF BOB BOLUS SR.)
Some residents who spoke Tuesday in support of the LGBTQ community urged people to speak out against intolerance.
'When someone stands at this podium and spews dehumanizing rhetoric and it's met with a 'thank you' or no response at all it sends a message, a message that hate has a place here. Silence is not neutrality. It comes off as complicity,' resident Jessica McGuigan said. 'We are living in a moment where lines are being drawn across the country, in our own backyards, and the fear, the rhetoric of fear, division and dehumanization is not abstract. It's being written into laws, spoken from pulpits and shouted at school board meetings.'
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