Town leaders have bowed to the fundamental Constitutional right of Freedom of Speech in composing guidelines on public comment and participation in local meetings.
Always conscious of people’s rights to voice opinions, the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance of late have wrestled with how to cope with lengthy commentary sessions, some that have become quite heated and fraught with personal attacks and criticism.
First Selectman Bill Tinsley and Board of Finance Chairman Phil Kurtz both recently changed their agendas such that public comment at the beginning of the meeting was limited to agenda items only. Their was an outcry from fellow town leaders and residents that this was not fair play, particularly in a town that covets participatory government.
So after some debate, the Board of Selectmen this week created a compromise set of guidelines to assure people have the right to speak but that public business is also done in a timely fashion. The Board of Finance has adopted a similar practice.
“The primary purpose of Board of Selectmen meetings is to conduct town of Brookfield business as outlined by the meeting agenda. Board of Selectmen meetings also provide an opportunity, among many other additional opportunities, to receive public comment” read the guidelines Tinsley prepared and were unanimously adopted at a special meeting on Thursday. “In that regard, the Board of Selectmen meeting agenda will provide for two public comment opportunities: a public comment agenda segment will be scheduled for 20 minutes at the beginning of each meeting. Speakers wishing to address meeting agenda topics will be given priority during this 20 minute segment. A second public comment agenda segment, prior to adjournment, will be scheduled at each meeting. There will be no overall time limit for this agenda segment.”
“These public comment sections are provided so that residents can express their thoughts and opinions to the selectmen. They are not designed to be question and answer sessions. The first selectman and the selectman are available by appointment for in-depth discussions of matters of concerns to residents.
“To be fair to all who wish to speak, as well as to all meeting attendees, a three-minute allotment per speaker will be observed. Speakers are invited to speak for themselves. An individual may speak a second time after all others wishing to speak have done so.
“Attendees at the meeting are expected to listen respectfully to the speaker, and speakers’ behavior should also be respectful. Comments from attendees in the audience are not permitted. Profanity is not permitted. The meeting will be stopped to address unacceptable behavior.”