(A) Public comments. During a period of 30 minutes the Mayor or presiding officer may recognize any citizen of the municipality or others who have standing in the municipality at any regular meeting without being on the agenda concerning any municipal matter, with the exception of personnel matters.
(B) Public hearing. Any citizen of the municipality or others who have standing regarding the topic of the public hearing shall be entitled to an appearance before Council at a “called public hearing.”
(C) Presenters/petitioners. Any citizen of the municipality or others who have standing in the municipality shall be entitled to an appearance before Council at any regular meeting concerning any municipal matter with the exception of personnel matters. Persons desiring to speak must notify the Town Manager prior to 12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the Council meeting to be placed on the agenda. Presenters/petitioners must provide their name, address and matter to be discussed.
(D) Sign-up for public comments and/or public hearing. At least ten minutes prior to the commencement of a Town Council meeting, a potential speaker, who is not already a presenter/petitioner appearing on the agenda, wishing to appear before Council must place his or her name, address and matter to be discussed on the public comments or public hearing list. The list shall be maintained by the Clerk to Council. Sign-ups for public comments and public hearings will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No names will be added to either list once the lists are given to the Mayor or presiding officer.
(E) Appearing before Council. When recognized by the Mayor or presiding officer, the speaker shall approach the podium and give his or her name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records, state the subject he or she wishes to address, and state whom he or she is representing (group, organization and the like), if applicable.
(F) Time limit. Any speaker appearing before Council for public comments or at a public hearing shall limit his or her remarks to three minutes. The Clerk to Council will be the timekeeper and will notify the Mayor or presiding officer when a speaker’s time has expired. All remarks made by the speaker shall be addressed to Council as a whole and not to any individual member of Council. No profanity or personal attacks will be permitted; the speaker will forfeit time as a result of either.
(G) Other. No person other than members of Council and the speaker shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of Council, without the permission of the Mayor or presiding officer. Otherwise, such behavior by those in attendance may cause cancellation of public comments or public hearing. The purpose of addressing Council is to allow Council members to hear the opinions of citizens and is not intended to afford the opportunity to engage in a debate or dialogue; therefore, no reply or rebuttal by Council members is required.
(1995 Code, § 1-3006) (Ord. 071806, passed 7-18-2006)