WILLIAMSPORT - While the two sides settled the issue weeks ago, a filing in federal court Wednesday officially dismissed Northumberland County Commissioner Stephen Bridy from a lawsuit over the limits on public comment at county commissioners meetings.
A stipulation for voluntary dismissal was filed in U.S. District Court, Williamsport, removing Bridy from a suit filed by William R. Knapick Sr., of Coal Township, against the county, and commissioners Bridy and Vinny Clausi over the time limit given for public comment at the meetings.
Knapick filed the suit in March after a January meeting when Clausi imposed a two-minute limit on public comment without a vote or receiving approval from the other commissioners.
When Knapick spoke at the meeting, he was only given 90 seconds before being cut off by Clausi. David Kaleta, a member of the public, was cut off at the same meeting after 65 seconds.
In August, Knapick and his attorneys, Timothy Bower and Kymberley Best, informed the media that the two sides had settled the case for $4,250 in attorney fees and a change in the policy.
The commissioners then voted to approve the settlement and voted to limit public comment to three minutes on a 2-0 vote with Clausi and Bridy voting yes and commissioner Rick Shoch abstaining.
Bowers said Thursday he expects to file the settlement documents soon.