The contentious debate over the CVS Pharmacy project in Sebastopol is tinged with complaints of bias and free speech violations. Opponents sought to have Sebastopol City Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer disqualified from the vote, contending that a misdirected email showed that she was biased in favor of the project. And they complained the mayor violated their rights to free speech by barring a slide show.

Dozens of people lined up Monday night to try to sway the Sebastopol City Council on a controversial CVS Pharmacy proposed for one of the city’s most prominent spots. The crowd of about 250 people was about 2-to-1 in favor, based on a show of hands, with supporters calling the project well-designed and a plus for business, and those against wanting something smaller and more fitting Sebastopol’s small-town character. The council will decide the fate of the project next month. What should it do?

Sebastopol loves a good debate, and little is as contentious in this west county city of 7,500 as development. Attention is now turned on the CVS Pharmacy project proposed for one of Sebastopol’s most visible corners.

A Sebastopol group that has fought to limit public exposure to radio waves is suing the city for approving additional antennas to an existing telecommunications tower behind City Hall.

Twin Hills Union School District has won the coveted lease of the Pine Crest Elementary School campus in Sebastopol in a deal that has sparked acrimony between school officials in neighboring school districts. It follows months of sometimes contentious debate over whether Sebastopol should have agreed to lease the property to the independent school that it charters.

What’s next for Occupy? Sebastopol resident Jonathan Greenberg, executive director of the nonprofit BeYourGovernment.org, predicts the movement will focus on ousting incumbents in Congress from both parties. In their place, he says the people will elect a majority of new candidates with integrity, willing to re-create a government that serves the needs of the citizens it governs.

PG&E wants to give customers concerned about radio wave emissions from its new SmartMeters the choice of retaining conventional meters — for a fee. The utility’s action comes in response to objections to SmartMeters, the devices that monitor customers’ electricity and natural gas consumption and transmit the data to PG&E.

After three hours of sometimes bitter debate about whether radio frequencies cause health problems, the Sebastopol City Council Tuesday allowed additional antennas to be added to an existing telecommunications tower behind City Hall. The council in a 2-2 vote denied the appeal of the EMF Safety Network, a Sebastopol group that has vociferously fought PG&E’s SmartMeters, downtown Sebastopol Wi-Fi and cellphone antennas.

The Sebastopol City Council passed a resolution Tuesday endorsing the Occupy movement. The resolution notes that one in six Americans live in poverty, that the top 1 percent of households have incomes averaging $27 million and the remaining 99 percent average $31,224. The document decries the system that creates such inequality.

Sebastopol Mayor Guy Wilson and Vice Mayor Michael Kyes were elected to second terms Tuesday night in a process that highlighted a split on the council. Councilwoman Kathleen Shaffer, who was absent, was nominated by Councilman Patrick Slayter, but was rejected in a 1-3 vote.