New Rules for Citizens Requesting Appearance Before Town Council
ORDINANCE 2018-02
An Ordinance Amending Section 2-16 of the Town Code of Ordinances
Concerning the Appearance of Citizens at Town Council Meetings
Any person is entitled to an appearance before council at any regular meeting concerning a municipal matter with the exception of personnel matters. To be placed on the council agenda a person will be required to adhere to the following:
- Persons desiring to speak must notify the town clerk or town administrator by noon of the Friday before the regularly scheduled council meeting.
- Persons must specify what topic they intend to speak about.
- Persons will be limited to five minutes to address council. The Mayor or presiding officer may grant the speaker additional time if circumstances warrant it.
- Persons that speak on other matters not specified will be deemed out of order and will not be allowed to continue speaking.
- Mayor and council members have the right to answer questions that may be posed.
- Person should approach the podium and state their full name and address before addressing the Town Council.
- All speakers must conduct themselves in a professional manner.
- All speakers will be limited to three minutes to speak. This time allotment may not be transferred to anyone else. The Town's Clerk/Treasurer will notify the speaker if they exceed their three minutes to talk.
- Speakers will refrain from using: profanity; language likely to incite violence or outbursts from the audience; language that is disruptive to the orderly process of the meeting; engaging in conversations with individual council members; making comments of a personal nature regarding others; shouting, yelling, or screaming.
- Speakers should understand that the Town Council cannot deliberate on any questions presented by the speaker if the question or topic is not posted on the agenda.