Time for Councilor Brechnitz to Step Aside

At the November 18 council meeting, Councilor Brechnitz had a hard time keeping track of votes and remembering people’s names. He blundered and stumbled through the meeting and at times looked completely disoriented. Brechnitz used humor to obscure the situation and cover up for his mistakes. This inability to focus is troubling and sad.

During the approval of the agenda, Brechnitz said the vote was 3/2 when in fact it was 4/2. He was wrong with the initial number but then was corrected by another councilor. He was clearly losing track of the meeting and needs to be relieved of his duties.

Next, he could not remember that there was a resolution on the agenda at all and forgot that the city clerk had to read it into the minutes. He made another joke to cover it up but it was clear that he again lost his train of thought. Then he went on to forget Councilor Schwan’s name, and she had to remind him.

When Councilors Henry and Schwan spoke, he claimed that “their voices sound alike” which is absolutely untrue. They have completely different vocal characteristics including different pitch, tone, and inflection. He is clearly confused when he hears women’s voices on the dias.

It was obvious that just like all of us, Brechnitz is forgetting things and his mental faculties are not what they used to be. As we age there is a day that we won’t be able to drive or remember as well as we used to. Therefore, he needs to recognize that it’s time to step aside and let recently elected, younger individuals lead the council.