Last night the Town Council adopted the new changes to the Standing Rules with only two Council members voting NO (Visconti and Adler)Watch it on WHCTV here (I saw it live on TV).
Other members of the Town Council justified their vote by saying that the rules change really didn't change anything other than require a set standard for decorum, re-arranged the meeting agenda and flow of the meeting, and allow for a clearer stated enumeration of reasons why Communications can be accepted or refused by the Town Council, as well as put in place an appeals process for refused Communications (i.e. the procedure whereby citizens can write a letter and request to be placed on the agenda to speak on a particular issue of importance to them which is not part of an issue having to do with a public hearing item).
Even so - an amendment to the resolution was put forth by Councilman Visconti (and seconded by Councilman Adler) which would have placed open public comment at the end of the meeting for issues not on a meeting's agenda was rejected.
So as it stands, the public's opportunity to speak at a Town Council meeting shakes out to be like this:
Public Comment - You can sign up to speak at any meeting, just prior to the meeting, to speak for 3 minutes on any topic that is on the Town Council agenda.
Communication - You can write a letter/email to the Town Council and request to be placed on the agenda to address a specific subject (but based on the guidelines for what is acceptable) and if the Council approves your Communication you will be given 5 minutes to speak - pretty much at the end of the meeting. Communication that is denied can be appealed and will be allowed only if you can get 4 Council members to agree to the appeal and place you on the agenda.
That's it.
The only other time you can publicly speak is at a public hearing - and that is only on that topic and only for 3 minutes. (unless you represent a group, then you get more time)
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