(A)
Regular meetings of the Town Council shall be held monthly at a time and date approved during the final meeting of the Town Council in the preceding year and such other meetings as may be necessary for the transaction of the business of the town.
(B) All meetings of the Town Council shall be announced and conducted in accordance with the state's Open Door statutes, being I.C. 5-14-1.5.
(C) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
ATTENDEE. Any individual present at a meeting held by a public agency.
MEETING. Any gathering of a governing body of a public agency for the purpose of taking official action upon public business, as defined by I.C. 5-14-1.5-2.
(D) Rules of behavior.
(1) Respectful conduct. All attendees must conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Disruptive behavior, including shouting, interrupting speakers, or engaging in personal attacks, is prohibited.
(2) Speaking procedures. Attendees wishing to speak must follow the procedures established by the presiding officer, including speaking only at designated times in the agenda, adhering to time limits, and speaking only when recognized by the presiding officer.
(3) Prohibited items. Attendees are prohibited from bringing items that could disrupt the meeting, including but not limited to signs, banners, or noise-making devices.
(4) Electronic devices. All electronic devices must be silenced during the meeting. Attendees using electronic devices in a disruptive manner may be asked to leave.
(5) Compliance with laws. Attendees must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to public health and safety.
(E) Public comment periods.
(1) Scheduled periods. Public comment periods shall be scheduled during each meeting to allow attendees to address the governing body.
(2) Time limits. Each speaker shall be allotted a maximum of three minutes to speak. The presiding officer may extend or reduce this time limit as necessary.
(3) Relevance. Comments must be relevant to the agenda items or matters within the jurisdiction of the governing body.
(4) Orderly conduct. Speakers must conduct themselves in an orderly manner and adhere to the rules of behavior outlined in division (D).
(F) Enforcement.
(1) Authority. The presiding officer has the authority to enforce these rules and may take necessary actions to maintain order, including issuing warnings and requesting the removal of disruptive individuals.
(2) Penalties. Any individual found in violation of this section may be subject to penalties, including removal from the meeting and potential fines. Any individual issued three warnings will be automatically removed unless there is a perceived threat to self or others which would necessitate immediate removal.
(G) Exceptions. Exceptions to these rules may be granted by the presiding officer on a case-by-case basis for specific circumstances.
(Prior Code, Title I, Ch. I, Art. I, § 9) (Ord. 8, 2024, passed 9-4-2024