Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6, MARCH 23, 2009, THE ISLANDER
Comment period
Continued from Page 1
said Coleman as he made a motion
to approve the comment period and
guidelines.
Commissioner Howard Lynn (Dist.
4) kicked off the discussion saying he
had a problem with guideline #6, which
states that if the comment period is
well received, the commission could
extend it from 15 minutes to 30. Guide
line #2 limits the comment
period to 15 minutes total,
along with limiting an indi
vidual's speaking time to
live minutes.
Lynn said, "How many
of you used to come to
(commission) meetings ten
or twelve years ago? They
used to do this at meetings
and they went to 1:00 and
2:00 in the morning. I do
not want to do that."
Lynn said he liked the
idea of the comment period
but also had a problem with
guideline #4 that requires
citizens who want to speak
to call the commission office
by 12 noon the day of the
meeting and give their
name, address and topic of
discussion. This guideline
also says speakers will be
accommodated on a first
come, first served basis.
"I want to talk more about that (#4),
said Lynn, "I also think we need more
staff input and review and I'd like to
see #6 removed."
Commissioner Tony Thaw (Dist. 3)
said, "No one does not want to hear
from the public. I hear from them every
day. I get phone calls and e-mails.
When this came up before, I made my
comments and I stand by them."
"Commissioner Coleman has not
contacted me about this," said Thaw,
"And I'd still like the staff to do a study,
like I said at the other meeting, and see
what other comities do this and which
ones don't and see how it works. How
many counties out of 159 do this? Do
we need ACCG (Association of County
Commissions of Georgia) help with
this? Are we going to listen to legal
issues dining this comment period? I'm
not comfortable with a lot of this."
Commissioner Don Hogan (At Large
#1) also had questions. "Did staff work
on this? What is the time period of
(guideline) #5?"
Quideline #5 states "Any citizen who
fails to follow the general guidelines
of this open comment period may be
suspended by the Board of Commis
sioners for a period of time or in the
most extreme circumstance, revoked
permanently."
Hogan wanted to know how long
the suspension would last. He was
also opposed to taking adverse action
against a citizen.
"People can call me and get on the
agenda to speak to this commission,"
said Hogan, "I will be glad to put on
anyone who wants to come on the
agenda. But, who revokes their right to
speak? I don't want to."
Coleman said he put
that particular guideline
in based on statements he
heard.
"I don't want to cre
ate a hostile environment
where people talk down
to the commission dur
ing this comment period,"
said Coleman.
"Who evaluates this?,"
Hogan asked wanting to
know who would judge if
a citizen was following the
guidelines.
"People have a right to
talk down to this commis
sion," maintained Hogan,
"They have the right to
express their feelings.
This does not look like
staff come up with this. I'd
vote for people to be able
to come before us, but I
don't like this wording."
Commissioner Amy Callaway said
she was conflicted on whether staff had
looked at the guidelines.
"Why hasn't the staff done the
study,?" Callaway asked.
Apologizing, County Administra
tor Charles Stewart said he thought
the issue was deferred at the previ
ous meeting and staff study was not
requested.
Callaway said she thought it was
deferred for the staff study.
Commission chairman Jerome Clark
(Dist. 5) and Thaw both said staff study
was not ordered.
A review of the minutes of the Feb
ruary meeting by County Clerk Cindee
Overstreet showed Clark and Thaw
were correct. The motion made by Cole
man asked that the item "be deferred
to allow him the opportunity to amend
his recommendation." There was no
mention of a staff study in the motion.
Hogan reiterated his position he
supported the public coming before
the commission and his opposition to
revoking their right to speak.
"I will put anyone on the agenda
who wants to be," stated Hogan.
Saying it was a "pretty simple" issue,
Coleman maintained that the commis
sion was making it more complicated
than it needed to be.
"I'm not in competition with any
other county," Coleman said in response
to Thaw's wanting to know what other
counties do.
"The (Glynn County) school board
does it," said Coleman, "They listen
and they do not comment. If someone
gets out of hand it's a simple matter
to deal with and has been done in this
room before. I've seen it. I've heard for
months on end that people can't speak
in here. People have the right to do that
and should not have to go to one com
missioner to get put on the agenda."
Hogan said, "I support 15 minutes
of public comment and people coming
before us, but I don't support these
guidelines or revoking someone's right
to speak."
When Coleman's motion for the com
ment period died for lack of a second,
Lynn made a motion to defer the item
for staff to review and bring it back at
one of the April commission meetings.
The motion passed unanimously. □
Guidelines for Citizen Comment Period as proposed
by Commissioner Bob Coleman (At-Large Post 2)
1. ) The citizen comment period would occur during each
regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
2. ) Comments would be limited to five (5) minutes individu
ally and the entire citizen comment period would be limited to
fifteen (15) minutes.
3. ) This period should be used strictly as an opportunity to
share information. The board will not respond to any citizen
during the open comment period. Citizens can address the
Commissioners regarding any matter they wish; however, this
period will not become a hostile exchange or used to advance
personal platforms.
4. ) The citizen comment period is open on a first come, first
serve basis. Citizens must contact the Commission office by 12:00
p.m. of meeting day and provide their name, address and topic
of discussion.
5. ) Any citizen who fails to follow the general guidelines of
this open comment period may be suspended by the Board
of Commissioners for a period of time or in the most extreme
circumstance, revoked permanently.
6. ) If this is well received after a few meetings, the Commission
may wish to extend the comment period to thirty (30) minutes.
REAL ESTATE
and YOU
REALTY INC.
St. Simons Island
Results
<pras
By Susan Hardwick vy REA lty inc\-/
ABR, CRS, E-PRO, GRI
Service • Commitment
TAX TIPS FOR YOU
This is the appropriate time to be aware of some very important tax
tips. Be sure to deduct the interest you pay on your home loan on your
tax return. That means the mortgage interest deduction reduces your tax
liability.
If you recently purchased a home or re-financed, be sure to deduct
property taxes and points you paid to lower your interest rate. Learn
about tax advantages of new laws in this challenging market. Request a
property tax assessment if your home’s market value has declined.
Wrap your property taxes into your monthly mortgage payment.
If paying that one huge tax bill annually, consider getting an escrow
account with your mortgage.
Know that your tax situation changes with every real estate move you
make. This is only the beginning of tax tips for homeowners. And, if you
are currently renting, consider the tax advantages of homeownership.
Now is the best time to buy! Call me, I’d like to help.
For the best in professional service contact Susan Hardwick, 638-6660 office,-
or 1-877-638-6660, Ext. 625. 638-8782 home, 912-222-0392 mobile;
e-mail: susanhardwick@bellsouth.net,web: www.seapalmsrealty.com
±
Property Sales
on St. Simons and Sea Island
are brought to you weekly as a courtesy of
Elizabeth Johnson
REALTOR
FOX RUN
i=i
It I H I
912-230-3236 • 912-265-0147
ejohnson@foxmnproperties.com
Transfer Seller
Buyer
Location/Legal
Tax
Description/Address
St Simons
$ 75.00
Hurricane Construction
Inc
Linginfelter, Daniel M
Lot 57, Ph I, Township Bluff
$ 300.00
Watts, Larry V &
Reddock, John T & Laney B
Unit 201 Bldg 2 Gargage 14,
Priscilla H
Barnes Plantation Condos,
**1704 Frederica Rd #201-2
$ 324.00
Dow, Justin A
Bumgartner, Eric L
Lot 84, Ph 3A, Harrison
Pointe, **127 Harrison Pte
Dr
$ 340.00
Fleming, Waide J
Data Dimensions Inc
Unit 150, Ph 5, Demere
Landing Condos, **200 Salt
Air Dr #150
$ 350.00
Coastal Bank of
Dmetruk, Stephen F
Lot 20, Blk 25, East Beach,
Georgia
**2205 Bruce Dr
$ 900.00
Kelly, Henry A &
Stone, H Aubrey & Lee Anne Lot 41, Ph 4, St Simons
Joanne J
Island Club, **317 Forest
Oaks
6 Warranty Deeds for Sea Island & St. Simons for week ending 3/13/2009