Emotions boiled over at Monday night's Windsor City Council meeting.
During a debate over the potential closure of Matchette Rd., a number of those in the gallery became loud, forcing Mayor Drew Dilkens to call a recess.
Mayor @drewdilkens has called a recess. The term "stand down" was used. City security asked the gallery to leave chambers. #cklw pic.twitter.com/VWjtctSRNb
— Rob Hindi (@rhindi800) May 9, 2017
Dilkens used the term "stand down" and moments later council members left the chamber. City hall security then asked the gallery to leave until the meeting resumed.
"I stood down the meeting because we couldn't gain compliance from the audience, they were being disruptive, never seen it happen before, never had to use it before," says Dilkens.
"If you can't have a respectful conversation with your municipal government then we just have to wait and gain some composure," says Dilkens. "I think what people saw is when we came back in folks were better composed and we were able to continue with the meeting in a more respectful way."
The recess lasted around 10 minutes.
In the end, city council voted to keep Matchette Rd. open.