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Public gets more time to speak at council meetings
(by Sue Reid - February 25, 2009)
Public gets more time to speak at council meetings
By SUE REID
A change is coming regarding the duration and number of times that residents may speak during the public-comment portion of Solon City Council meetings. Council unanimously approved a motion last week amending a prior rule.
Residents can speak both prior to the meeting and prior to its concluding discussion on any item, with no time limit.
Previously, a five-minute time limit was imposed on residents who were able to speak prior to the meeting beginning on any subject. Before that, residents were only able to speak on agenda items at the beginning. Then at the end of the meeting, they were able to speak on any item.
The changes through the years were to accommodate applicants from the planning commission who may have been in attendance at council meetings and would have to be kept waiting through a lengthy comment portion at the start of the meeting, Councilwoman Susan A. Drucker said.
Mrs. Drucker brought up the issue at last week's meeting, she said, because she is concerned about having to cut off people who have pertinent things to say. The five-minute time limit does not seem to be working out, she said. "I just don't want residents to have to be worried about a time clock. I don't take any pleasure in cutting people off," she said.
"We have residents who want to contribute, and their contributions are invaluable. You can learn so much from them," she said.
"You just don't want to cut people off," she said. "They're coming to a meeting and they deserve to be heard."
She also said she has a concern with being consistent. If time has to be kept with one resident, it needs to be kept with all.
"I just don't like that they have to be worried about a time clock," Mrs. Drucker said.
Councilman Robert N. Pelunis said he thinks it's appropriate for residents to speak at both the beginning and at the end of the meeting. "We're here to serve the residents, so I don't think there should be a time limit," he said.
Councilman John S. Scott said he agrees, but he thinks there needs to be some sort of reasonable time limit.
Councilman Edward K. Suit said he has no objections with dropping the time limit.
"I think if people want to come up and speak their peace, they need to be heard," Mrs. Drucker said. "We're lucky residents want to be involved."
Mr. Pelunis said, if residents pose a question during the comment portion that a council member or the mayor can easily answer, then the question should be answered. "There could be a very easy response to residents' queries, and we should do that," he said.
People should get an answer if they have a question, Mrs. Drucker said.
Following the vote, Mrs. Drucker said council will see how the new method goes. She said the hope is residents do not speak for a half an hour, but for the most part, they have always been respectful of the five-minute time limit.
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