Move your soapbox to the end of the meeting
Of late, the Greensboro city council has been inundated with folks who'd like their three minutes at the public podium.
At the council's public comment session at the beginning of each meeting, there are citizen groups asking for help or promoting an event. Then there are folks who have less important things to do with their designated public comment time ("City council, you've been Punk'd").
With that in mind, Councilman Zack Matheny floated a plan to limit the 30 minutes of public comment to city-related issues only. Folks who want to talk about anything else can wait for the second public comment period at the end of the council meeting.
Matheny said some people were taking advantage of the council.
"We need to set policy for the city of Greensboro. Let's focus on city business," Matheny said.
His request was met by all the right questions from his fellow council members. How could they implement this new rule fairly? How can they do it without violating constitutional rights of free speech? What about issues that don't concern the city, but might be interesting to hear?
They didn't vote on his proposal, but instead asked for the city legal staff to do a little research first.
Enter First Amendment Center scholar David L. Hudson Jr.
Free speech should be protected in these public forums, according to Hudson.
Hudson says the council can limit the length of the discussion (something they already do) but should shy away from barring speakers simply because they don't want to hear what they have to say.
Requiring speakers to address issues that are germane to city business may not be out of order, Hudson said.
"They do have to get city business done," he said "That's the purpose of these meetings."
Plus, anyone with off-topic comments can still be heard -- they'll just have to wait until the end of the meeting to do it under Matheny's plan.
And if they can last until the wee hours when council wraps up, they certainly will deserve their podium time.
Comments (1)
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When a government decides to offer a “public comment” period at an open meeting, it provides that citizens may exercise their First Amendment rights.In Greensboro it is called Speakers from the floor.
If I want to say that Zack"I should have recused myself" Matheny is bought and paid for by the TREBIC CARTEL I have that right to do that.
For Zack"I should have recused myself"Matheny to make the citizens of Greensboro wait till the end of the meetings is another step in the wrong direction for the Greensboro City Council. The city council is already embroiled in way too many issues at this time.
We all know the same people who do speak in front of the city council even the mayor said we missed you at the last meeting to speak.
If Zack" I should have recused myself" Matheny doesn't like to hear his constituents speak, just stay outside in the lobby and go over your talking points with Derek Allen and the TREBIC CARTEL.
Posted on April 30, 2008 7:43 PM