Council Declines To Move Forward On Anti-Bullying Ordinance, Again

Despite an impassioned appeal from the author of the proposed ordinance, the Town Council declined again to move forward on legislation to curb bullying.

“We all know bullying has taken on pandemic proportions in recent years,” said Bob Houghtaling, the director of the town’s drug program, in advocating for a new ordinance that would allow local youths accused of bullying-like behavior to go before the juvenile hearings board rather than into the state court system.

“We’re trying to get out ahead of the curve,” Houghtaling added. “We want to be able to intervene in a way that is supportive and not punitive.”

Houghtaling and Police Chief Tom Coyle put forward a bill in late January that would create new restrictions against bullying-like behavior. Their proposal was rejected because several Councilors thought the language was a violation of First Amendment rights. The purpose of the proposed ordinance, Houghtaling said Monday night, was to create a way to deal with bullies at the local level, rather than in the state court system.

While several Councilors seemed receptive to this notion, Town Solicitor Peter Clarkin said there is good reason to wait before enacting a new law.

“We need to see what the state is going to do first,” he said. “Anything the state does would take precedence over anything we do.”

Clarkin said the state legislature is planning on issuing a report on bullying in March, and he advocated that the Council wait until that report comes out before taking further action.

Council President Michael Isaacs commended Houghtaling and Coyle for their efforts, but agreed with Clarkin that patience might be prudent.

“I think it’s an issue that needs to be addressed and I think is a role for the town because much of the conduct does occur outside of school,” he said. However, he added, “I think we should do something, but it’s a matter of timing. If the state is going to do something it doesn’t make a lot of sense for us to do something different.”

Without voting on the matter, the Council agreed to wait to see what action the legislature takes on the matter.