Municipalities and other public bodies are charged with making
decisions which have wide-reaching impacts across broad swaths of
society. They are often mandated to do so, explicitly or
implicitly, in the public interest, and in a free, open, and
democratic manner. Frequently, such decisions involve matters of
some controversy among the constituents who will be affected by or
interested in the outcome. As a result, Council and Board
deliberations, debates, and decisions are subject to considerable
public scrutiny and, often, criticism. Concerned citizens might
lobby councillors or board members by letter or email; they might
attend open meetings to make representations or pose difficult
questions; they might even take to protest. Councillors, board
members, or staff might find these actions by citizens to be
disruptive or even intimidating. While some individuals and their
actions may be viewed as a nuisance, others can come across as
threatening. When the actions give
