Commissioners adjust public comments guidelines
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 7, 2016 1:45 AM
sherring@newsargus.com
Wayne County commissioners Tuesday morning continued to fine-tune the rules governing the public comments portion of their meetings.
The policy was not on the agenda, but was added at the request of Commissioner Ed Cromartie.
Cromartie's motion to change the policy was approved 6-0. Commissioner Wayne Aycock did not attend the meeting.
It is the third time since January that the board has revised the policy.
At their Jan. 5 meeting, the board moved the public comment period from 10 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. to allow for comment on agenda items before any votes were taken.
On Jan. 19, they specified the time as 15 minutes after the start of any board meeting in order to include special sessions.
Other changes included that speakers had to sign up with the clerk to the board 10 minutes before the start of the 9 a.m. meeting including their name, phone number and to state whether or not they plan to speak about items on the agenda.
Speakers who comment on agenda items were allowed four minutes, while those speaking on non-agenda items will be limited to two minutes. The chairman made the determination as to whether or not the comments are being made on agenda items.
But on Tuesday, Cromartie made a motion to change the policy to allow the public to speak for four minutes "on any item they desire" at regular board meetings.
Also, signs, posters and videos will not be permitted.
"Individuals making comments under this policy are encouraged to speak only about matters in which the Wayne County commissioners have control," Cromartie said in making his motion. "In the event that public comments exceed one hour the chairperson has the discretion to terminate the public comments at that time."
The public comments will continue to be held 15 minutes after the 9 a.m. meeting begins or as soon as they can be arranged, he said.
In the event that the speaker has written information to present to commissioners, it must be provided to the clerk to the board so that the clerk may provide it to commissioners and immediate staff, he said.
"Congratulations," Commissioner Ray Mayo said. "It is about time because we saw a perfect example Mr. Chairman (Joe Daughtery) while you were gone (during the Aug. 2 board meeting) as to why this needs to be changed. That is what the citizens of Wayne County want."
Daughtery joking asked if there were comments other than "editorializing."
"Mr. Chairman, I have got to say this, I have been trying to get this done for three years," Commissioner John Bell said.