Two Boston city councilors express concerns with Council president’s ‘conduct in meetings’

Two Boston city councilors have penned a formal letter of concern to the city clerk about the Council president’s “conduct in meetings,” particularly in terms of the “perceived bias” that is said to be shown in her interactions with certain councilors.

Councilors Erin Murphy and Ed Flynn wrote a formal letter on Monday to City Clerk Alex Geourntas, urging him to address the “concerns” they have about how City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune — who is about halfway through her two-year term as head of the 13-member body — runs weekly meetings.

The letter is included as an official communication on the Wednesday City Council agenda, which also includes a related hearing order filed by Flynn, “to discuss the responsibilities of the City Council president during the weekly Council meeting.”

“The Council president frequently engages in commentary following the remarks of certain councilors, particularly myself and Councilor Flynn, which undermines the impartiality expected of the presiding officer,” the letter, written by Murphy and co-signed by Flynn, the Council president last term, states.

“This behavior raises concerns about adherence to our established rules, specifically regarding the expectation that the Council president must step down from the dais to express personal opinions that are not procedural in nature.”

The letter goes on to state that “several colleagues and members of the public have noted this behavior and expressed their discomfort with the perceived bias.”

Murphy declined to name the other councilors her letter references.

“It is essential that all councilors feel respected and treated equally, without fear of being undermined or receiving negative commentary from the presiding officer,” the letter states. “The role of the Council president is to facilitate discussions, not to take sides or add personal critiques to the proceedings.”

The letter mentions that Council operations are governed by the Boston City Charter, the rules of the City Council and Robert’s Rules of Order, and notes, per Murphy and Flynn, that it is “imperative that we uphold these guidelines to ensure fair and orderly proceedings.”

Murphy and Flynn wrote that they are urging the city clerk, Geourntas, to “consider these concerns seriously, as they affect the integrity of our Council and the public’s perception of our work.”

“It is our hope that we can foster a more collaborative environment where all voices are heard and respected, adhering strictly to the rules that govern our conduct,” the letter states.

The Herald’s requests for comment from Louijeune and Geourntas, who apparently has the ability to address Council leadership concerns, were not returned.

Flynn, who is considering a 2025 mayoral bid, and Murphy — both seen as antagonists of Mayor Michelle Wu and allies on the Council — have been vocal in recent weeks about their displeasure with how they view the current environment on the City Council.

Murphy cited Council “chaos” and a lack of support from the Wu administration among the reasons that led her to seek a new role as clerk of the Suffolk Supreme Judicial Court, a bid she lost in the September primary to a political newcomer and progressive attorney backed by a majority of the City Council.

Flynn said last month that he sees the frequent moves by his City Council colleagues — a number of whom, he said, have political alliances with the progressive Wu administration — have taken to “block” or oppose his policies as their attempts to “intimidate,” “isolate,” and “undermine” him for “political reasons” and to “protect Mayor Wu.”

Both Flynn and Murphy are moderates, putting them in the political minority on a progressive-majority City Council.

Louijeune has backed councilors that Flynn has tangled with as of late, saying after a bullying allegation last week, for example, that Flynn’s “decision to run to the Herald every time he creates an imagined slight instead of speaking to his colleagues is actually the troublesome and antagonistic behavior.”