General Guidelines for Public Comment at Open Meetings
Participation by members of the public in open meetings of the Board of Trustees is welcomed and encouraged. Adherence to these guidelines is expected.
All individuals who wish to speak during a public comment period on the agenda must sign in using a sheet made available by the Town Clerk. The sign-up sheet shall contain columns for each speaker's name and address.
Individuals who to make general announcements, address a topic whether it is on the agenda or not, or who wish to address specific agenda items for which there is not a separate public hearing scheduled must do so during the "public comment" section of the agenda.
Individuals who wish to address the Board during a public hearing item, should sign in on the sign-up sheet available for the specific public hearing.
Speakers are requested to keep comments short. Each speaker will be given a maximum of three (3) minutes to address the Board of Trustees, unless such time limit is waived by the Mayor. Individuals representing a group, recognized by the Mayor, shall be given up to five (5) minutes to speak or such time limit as may be set in advance of the public comment period by the Board of Trustees.
Speakers shall be heard in the order in which they signed up to do so (on the sign-up sheet).
Speakers should come to the podium to speak, giving their name and address before addressing the Board of Trustees. All comments shall be addressed to the Board as a whole and not to any individual Board Members.
Each individual may speak only once during the public comment period. Respectful rhetoric is required.
Written materials that a speaker believes might be appropriate for the Board’s consideration should be submitted in advance to the Town Clerk.
The Board of Trustees retains the authority to vary these guidelines as may be necessary during any public comment period and retains the authority to deviate from these guidelines as necessary.
