What Happened on October 22, 2025

At the October 22, 2025 Midpen Board meeting, Director Margaret MacNiven said the following about a member of the public who had submitted public input (3:29:48 timestamp in the meeting):

“And I need some reassurance that you can get rid of her or… you know… that I’m not going to have to read letters like that.”

These were her exact words, spoken into the microphone, during an official public meeting.

 

 

3:29:48 timestamp in the meeting

A Month Later — Still No Apology, No Accountability

It has now been a month since Director MacNiven publicly asked staff for “assurances” that they could “get rid of her.”

She has offered no apology, no correction, no acknowledgement, and no remorse.

This silence speaks for itself.

Public Participation Is a Fundamental Right

Margaret, it is a basic right for any member of the public to weigh in on the business of a government agency — including Midpen.

You are an elected official. Reading letters from the public is not optional.
It is literally part of your position and Board Policy. 

That is not harassment.
That is civic responsibility.
That is what the law expects the public to do.

Trying to Silence Community Voices Is Unacceptable

You don’t want to hear from the public alerting you that children were being put at risk on Midpen property?

You don’t want people raising concerns about safety, animal welfare, or government waste?

If you don’t want to read letters or hear comments that point out dangers, wrongdoing, or failures of oversight, the solution is simple — it’s time to resign.

Abusing Your Position to Bully a Member of the Public

When you try to intimidate someone for exercising their rights, you don’t just target them.
You send a message to everyone else that speaking up may result in being singled out, shamed, or retaliated against.

During the October 22, 2025 Board of Directors meeting you also framed prior public comments as being “pugnacious,” which further undercuts the public’s right to speak freely and without intimidation.

That chills public participation, which violates the spirit and purpose of California’s open-meeting laws.

Your agency’s own Code of Conduct requires you to listen to, respect, and respond appropriately to the public.

You broke Board Policy.

On October 22, 2025, you used your voice as a director to shame and target a member of the public for speaking up.

No elected official has the right to do that.

"I have the power."  "No you don't"

 

 

A dispute with another director at the November 2024 meeting trying to exercise their rights in a meeting.

Preventing another director from participating in a board discussion.

What you seem to find objectionable is the public and directors doing exactly what California law protects:
Speaking up.

A Call for Director MacNiven to Resign

This is not leadership.
This is not accountability.
This is a violation of trust and disrespect for the role you were elected to carry out.

Midpen’s community deserves better.

Director Margaret MacNiven needs to retract her statements.  

Take Action
Sign this petition if you believe:

No elected official should bully members of the public.
Public participation is a right, not an inconvenience.
Midpen needs leadership that respects accountability and transparency.

Let the Midpen Board know the community does not tolerate this kind of behavior.