BURBANK : Residents’ Views Back on the Air

For the first time in more than three years, the public could talk back to Burbank government on television Tuesday.

“I’m just hoping there aren’t going to be abuses of this that would relegate the council meeting to a local version of ‘The Gong Show,’ ” former Mayor Robert Bowne said before joining a 5-0 council vote to lift the ban on televising residents’ comments at the end of meetings.

That is the only time when speakers are not limited to discussing only items on the agenda. Special parking privileges, trash pickups and the annual budget were some of the topics broadcast on Sammons Communications Channel 21 after the ban was lifted.

“I’m willing to give this a fresh start,” said Bowne, who complained about a carnival atmosphere in the council before the ban.

Until the change Tuesday, the only time when members of the audience could speak on television was at the beginning of the meeting, but only about issues on the agenda.

New council members Dave Golonski, Bill Wiggins and Susan Spanos all said that televising the entire meeting was an issue in their campaigns.

“You have got to remember free speech is only free when it is disagreeable and irritating,” said Jules Kimmett, a persistent speaker who calls himself “His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Devil’s Advocate.”

Dez Tenke of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post asked for special parking privileges for the post drill team. The council denied the request.

“It was a mistake for the council because you created the impression that you didn’t want to cablecast viewpoints that were not the same as your own,” homeowners group leader Ted McConkey said.