A handful of Roswell residents turned out Monday to probe fallout over the death of Andrew Wordes, the so-called "Chicken Man" who took his life in a fiery explosion a month ago.
The few who broached the subject at a City Council forum that drew about 50 people objected to new security measures limiting public access to City Hall, measures instituted Thursday in response to death threats spurred by reports that Wordes had been the target of police harassment.
"The response to this issue and the liberal use of police powers represent a fundamental change in the relationship between the citizens of Roswell and their government," Roswell resident Jake Lilley said.
Late last week, public access to City Hall was limited to a side entrance where visitors must now pass through a metal detector and surveillance cameras.
Lilley pointed out that while some 600 city employees are provided separate entry to the building with no metal detectors, the public must run a gantlet to gain access to government officials. The practice, he said, distinguishes between those trusted and those not to be trusted.
A month before his death, Wordes, who gained fame for fighting City Hall over raising chickens in his backyard, blamed the city for his misfortunes -- a flood-damaged home, traffic and code enforcement citations, jail time, and foreclosure.
He set fire to his house March 26, killing himself, rather than allow county marshals to serve eviction papers.
The city has steadfastly denied it targeted Wordes. Code violations were the result of resident complaints, spokeswoman Julie Brechbill said.
Official documents show nearly two dozen police incidents involving Wordes, and code enforcement office records show six complaints filed by nearly a dozen neighbors over the past three years.
Brechbill said initial reaction to Wordes' death drew some phone calls critical of the city and seeking more information about the city's take on events. But the calls became more virulent about a week later after some syndicated radio talk shows picked up the story, Brechbill said. City Council members also began receiving threatening emails.
Mayor Jere Wood said he and City Administrator Kay Love implemented the security measures after consulting with the police chief. Employees must show ID upon entering the building, he said. The mayor and the council will review the issue during a May 15 committee meeting.
For now, visitors to the grand building, built in 1991 at a cost of $14 million, must bypass the expansive, column-lined front entrance, its marble floors and ornate staircases.
Comments opposing the policy drew a smattering of applause from the crowd Monday.
Sam Evans said he believes himself to be as trustworthy as any city employee.
"Some of the employees from the city could go crazy and bring a bomb into this City Hall," he said. "Please reconsider making everybody go through this metal detector."
Evans said later that he wanted to recommend renaming the public doorway "The Andrew Wordes Memorial Entrance."
Lee Fleck, who rose to speak about the city budget, placed a picture of Wordes on the overhead screen while he talked. At his conclusion, he said the city had brought about some of the fury by refusing to be more open about the Wordes case. He cited one incident in which a group of out-of-state journalists were led outside after they had asked to speak with the mayor and the council.
"I'm still convinced he was targeted," Fleck said after the meeting. "But I want to move this thing away from the right and closer to center."
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