The ongoing debate over what is acceptable public comment at Butler County commissioners meetings erupted again at Wednesday’s session, leading to two recesses stretched throughout the day.

The multiple stoppages caused the meeting, which started at 10 a.m., to end about 3:45 p.m.

During public comment, Commissioner Jim Eckstein accused county Children and Youth Services of mishandling a 2009 child abuse case.

Upon the advice of county solicitor Mike English, Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, ruled Eckstein out of order.

The meeting was recessed for 15 minutes. When the session resumed, Eckstein tried to continue where he left off.

McCarrier ruled him out of order again, recessing the meeting until 2 p.m.

Once the recess started, Eckstein and English bickered about the contents of the speech.

“You’re exposing the county to litigation,” English said.

Eckstein read his speech during the recess to those who still were in the meeting room. He did not identify the child involved in the case.

While Eckstein did name the Butler man who was the defendant, that person — Dean Reges — had given his permission and attended the meeting to also speak about his case.

When the meeting reconvened, McCarrier said Eckstein could finish his speech during the meeting after English read a statement.

English said Eckstein violated county policy by attacking county employees and discussing a confidential matter.

Eckstein said he was reading a revised version of his speech instead of the original.

He criticized McCarrier for heeding English’s advice by stopping the speech earlier.

“That’s a socialist concept, not an American concept,” Eckstein said. “McCarrier throws mud on the Constitution.”

McCarrier said Eckstein was the one who was out of line by discussing confidential matters.

“He says anything he wants,” McCarrier said. “He calls it justice.”

Both Reges and his brother, Robert Reges, were allowed to speak during public comment about the CYS case.

During the media question-and-answer session, English defended his call to advise McCarrier to stop Eckstein at the morning session.

English accused Eckstein of playing a game by omitting some information about the CYS case, but relaying enough for those who were unnamed to be identified through inference.

Eckstein said there was nothing wrong with stating facts.

“I didn’t make any statements lightly,” he said.

When asked if the county also could be sued by someone who is prevented from speaking, English conceded that was possible.

However, he said there was a difference between suing and winning a lawsuit.