The Butler County commissioners are poised to muzzle themselves Wednesday.

The commissioners on Friday decided to vote next week on cutting commissioner reports at public meetings.

Before the decision, they debated the proposed change.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said the 10-minute reports should end because Commissioner Jim Eckstein uses that time to vilify other officials and employees, such as once calling McCarrier and Commissioner Dale Pinkerton lower than pond scum.

“The things you say are completely out of line,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein defended his previous comments, saying the pond scum reference was due to false allegations levied against him in the past.

Both McCarrier and Pinkerton asked Eckstein to supply evidence he was ever falsely accused of harassing male lifeguard applicants.

“That’s something you formed in your own mind,” Pinkerton said.

Eckstein accused his colleagues of being autocrats.

“You’re mad I got elected,” he said.

McCarrier pointed out Eckstein is less than truthful with his comments.

“You don’t hold your comments within truthful parameters,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein accused McCarrier and Pinkerton of taking away his right of free speech.

“You don’t like what I say,” Eckstein said.

He said a young Ben Franklin stated there is no liberty without free speech.

“I’m proud of what I do at the meetings,” Eckstein said.

McCarrier said even when Eckstein’s remarks aren’t false, they don’t tell the full picture.

“You take everything out of context,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein said eliminating his opportunity to speak on county topics of his choosing was a double standard when members of the public are permitted to speak on topics such as the monarch butterfly, which happened last year.

“Is that county business?” he asked.

If the report periods are cut, the commissioners still would be able to talk about agenda items and respond to public comment.