Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 6, APRIL 6, 2009, THE ISLANDER
Comment period OK'ed
Continued from Page 1
for initiating the idea and made a
motion to approve his proposal, which
was seconded by Commissioner Tony
Thaw (Dist. 3).
Coleman said, “I appreciate what
you have done, Commissioner Hogan,
but this is not what I had intended. I
was not looking for a legal document
drawn up by our attorney.”
Coleman then listed his objections to
Hogan’s proposal.
• Section 2 - Location and time
- According to Hogan’s proposal the
public comment period would he held
from 5:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. fifteen min
utes before the commission’s regular
meeting.
Coleman said, “It won’t be a part of
the official meeting and that defeats
the purpose. It won’t be on TV or in the
official minutes. We are not required
to here at 5:45 so it’s possible that the
citizens will be talking to the wall.”
• Section 3 - Number of Speakers
and Sign Up - Hogan’s proposal limits
individuals to speaking to the board to
twice in a calender year.
Coleman said, “I’m concerned about
limiting people to twice a year. You
(Hogan) said you were for citizens being
able to speak whenever they wanted.
My definition of freedom of speech is
the public can speak when they want to
without being limited to twice a year.”
• Section 6 - Chairperson - Hogan’s
version gave full authority over the
comment period to the commission
chairman.
The policy document stated that it
was the chair’s “privilege” to review and
assess the public comment period to
determine whether to carry on, termi
nate, suspend or reinstate the period.
The chair had total discretion over
the comment period without any action
on the part of the commission.
Coleman said, “I’m also not comfort
able with the chairman having full
control. I understand we need to control
the situation and at times someone
may need to be reprimanded for not
following our policy. But, knowing the
rules, I don’t think people are going to
come here and behave in a manner that
will require them to be removed.”
“I’ve looked at the codes and ordi
nances,” Coleman continued, “and I do
not see anything that gives the chair
man the privilege to take this off sour
agenda or put it back on, at their sole
discretion. The chairman could come
in to a meeting feeling bad and just
say, ‘I’m going to remove the comment
period’ for no reason. Putting the chair
man in total control is out of line.”
• Section 5 - Conduct and Decorum
- Hogan’s policy stated that any speaker
who violated any part of the policy “will
be asked to stop such behavior and/or
may be removed at the discretion of the
chairman.”
Coleman said, “I also want to point
out that you (Hogan) were very con
vincing and repetitive that no citizen
should be punished, but section five
says they can be removed if they violate
the policy. I did not include removal in
my policy, although I realize we need to
control the meeting.”
In response, Hogan said, “People are
not limited to twice a year because any
one can come to an individual commis
sioner and ask to be put on the agenda
when ever they want. You can put them
on the agenda if you want to.”
Hogan added that it was his per
sonal opinion that the comment period
should be on TV, which would mean the
broadcast people would have to arrive
15 minutes earlier than they do now.
The motion to approve Hogan’s ver
sion of the public comment period policy
passed 6-1 with Coleman voting no.
After the meeting, addressing sev
eral comment period issues that were
not discussed during the meeting, Com
mission chairman Jerome Clark (Dist.
5) said he assumed the comment period
would start at the next regular meeting
on Thursday, April 16.
Nor was it clear at the end of the
meeting whether the public comment
period would be broadcast live and/or
taped or whether the County Clerk
would include a record of the period in
the meeting’s official minutes. □
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A condensed version of the Glynn County
Commission's Public Comment Period Policy
Section 1 - The objective and intent of the Public Comment Period is to provide
citizens with an opportunity to speak and be heard on these matters in a polite
and efficient manner in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein.
Citizens are also encouraged to express any concerns, comments, or questions
regarding County business directly to individual County Commissioners and/or
the County staff.
Section II. - The comment period will be held prior to regularly scheduled Board
meetings. It will commence at 5:45 p.m. and conclude at 6:00 p.m. and will be held
in the Commissioners’ meeting room in the Glynn County Historic Courthouse,
701 “G” Street, Brunswick, Georgia.
Section III. - A total of three citizens will be permitted to speak at each Public
Comment Period with a maximum of five minutes allotted to each speaker.
Speakers shall sign up for the next Public Comment Period on a first-come-
first-serve basis by completing a form provided by the County, with sign-up to
begin at 8:00 a.m. on the Monday immediately preceding a regularly scheduled
meeting and concluding at 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday of that same week.
When signing up, the individual must state his or her name, address, and sub
ject matter on which he or she wishes to speak.
Individuals may only speak once per meeting and only two times in any given
calendar year. Failure to follow the procedures outlined herein may result in an
individual not being eligible to address the Board as outlined in this Policy.
Section IV. - Public Comment is reserved for Glynn County business only and
for those citizens wishing to speak and be heard on matters under the jurisdiction
and control of the Board.
The public will not be allowed to address matters or issues which are tradition
ally reserved for executive session, such as personnel matters and matters which
are the subject of or pertain to pending or current litigation.
Section V. - Members of the public shall not make inappropriate, insulting, or
offensive comments while speaking. Personal attacks or remarks about individu
als, including Commissioners and staff, are not permitted. Speakers, after being
recognized by the Chairperson and asked to address the Board, will state their full
name, address, and telephone number for the record. All remarks shall be made
to the Board and addressed through the Chairperson. Remarks shall not be made
to a particular Commissioner.
The Board will not respond to questions or take any action, and no person shall
be permitted to enter into any discussion with the Board.
Any speaker who violates any part of this Policy or is disruptive will be asked
to stop such behavior and/or may be removed at the discretion of the Chairperson
or the Commissioner presiding over the Public Comment Period.
Section VI. - It shall be the Chairperson’s privilege to review and assess the
Comment Period to determine whether to carry on, terminate, suspend, or
reinstate the Period. The Chairperson may terminate, suspend, or reinstate the
Period at any time at his or her discretion and without any action on the part of
the Board. However, any amendment to the text of this Policy shall require the
affirmative vote of at least four members of the Board.
Calendar
Thursday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. Glynn
County Eagle Club hosts GSU Defen
sive Coordinator Ashley Anders and
Assistant Coach Jeff Koonz. Home of
Joan Harris, St. Simons Island. Low
Country boil dinner. Tickets $10. 912-
638-2228; 912-571-1937.
Saturday, April 18 noon to 3 p.m.
8th annual 'Spring Fling' for Disabled
Citizens. Mary Ross Park in Downtown
Brunswick. Free. 912-267-7613. □
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