Ricard's protest was in part because he felt the issues he brought up with the mayor were not brought to council at the Sept. 28 meeting. The protester questioned whether proper democratic process was followed as, in his opinion, his concerns were not adequately expressed in front of council.

"I took two occasions to speak with him and thank him for bringing his concerns to me," said Smith.

Ricard expressed concerns to this newspaper several days prior to the meeting regarding the lack of time for public input on the matter before council made their final decision. In the Sept. 15 issue of the Bracebridge Examiner it was reported that staff was working on a report for council consideration and no date had been set for the matter to go before general committee. A follow-up article was posted on muskokaregion.com on Sept. 15 stating the matter would be discussed at the Sept. 20 general committee meeting. Public outcry on social media demanded the bells continue to ring.

The mayor said the agenda for the general committee meeting was published on the town website a few days ahead of time, as is common practice.

Ricard argues this did not provide reasonable time or notice for those opposing the nighttime bells to prepare to attend the general committee meeting and be heard.

Earlier that evening, during the discussion on the noise bylaw, Smith acknowledged there are members of the community who are “not happy with the prospect of 24 hours a day,” noting the harsh reaction by some members of the public to those in opposition. Social media comments suggested the people who are troubled by the ringing of the bells should move away from downtown.

“We are all allowed to have an opinion. There is nothing wrong with that,” Smith said, thanking Ricard, referring to him as the “gentleman in the audience” for expressing his concerns about the process and at the possibility of looking further into the matter. He stated they would make efforts to see what could be done to mitigate the effects of the bell at night.

“There’s a lot of people who moved into the area who didn’t live there 10 years ago,” said the mayor, referring to the approximate time the bells of the historic clock tower building quit ringing. “I don’t see it quite as black and white as some do, but I have not desire to change the motion this evening.”

Ricard is not the only person in opposition to reinstatement of the clock tower bells. During his ward review Coun. Chris Wilson, councillor for Bracebridge ward – the ward that houses the hotly debated clock tower – said he has received many calls on the matter.

“Most in favour, some not. It’s definitely a topic on the forefront of the people in town,” he said.

Ricard left the premises before police arrived but said police later told him verbally that he is not allowed at town hall.

Smith said no formal charge has been made and he encourages people to express their opinions but "my choice would be that someone remain clothed while they do it."

Ricard’s issue with the clock tower building and its owner goes deeper than the clock tower itself. He is the son of a previous resident of the adjacent armory building that was ordered shut down by town staff in December of last year due to a structural safety concern with that building. Building owner Martin Sheffield ordered Ricard’s mother out of the building at that time due to the safety issues.

After some renovations to the building, what was once her apartment is now a business.

Ricard stated his mother was kicked out of her home with no notice just before Christmas and although they took the matter in front of a landlord tenant tribunal twice, she only received a small amount of compensation. Ricard questions whether the same safety standards are being applied to the bell tower as those which caused his mother to lose her home in December.