SUNBURY – Monday night the Sunbury City Council put out new rules for city council meetings…the goal, avoid arguments like during the last meeting. Mayor David Persing explains what happened at the last meeting that lead to the rules change, “We can’t have people ranting and raving and threatening people with guns. That’s what happened last meeting, that’s what’s not going to happen anymore.”
These rules, which include a time limit for speakers in the audience, a set amount of times each person is allowed to speak and a code of respect for each other that is left to the discretion of the Council members.
Regina Russell, a self proclaimed community activist had a difficult time adhering to the rules as she spoke several time throughout the meeting, with one exchange with an unnamed participant becoming heated.
The unnamed community member stated that he felt it was unsafe for him to be there if he can’t carry his legally registered weapon into the meeting, especially if certain people are going to “threaten” to shoot the place up.
Ms. Russell stated several times throughout the meeting that she never threatened anyone, but Mayor Persing felt differently, “Nobody’s being denied the opportunity to speak. You’re not going to get up here and speak 25 different times, you’re going to be held to a certain time limit, and we want sensible, responsible questions or answers or whatever you may have. You’re not going to just be bad mouthing people, lying about people and making things up and surely you’re not going mention the word gun and that you’d like to shoot somebody.”
We’ll have more about the new rules in future newscasts.
CITY OF SUNBURY
Rules for Public Comment at City Council Meetings
(as adopted by Resolution , July 10, 2017)
City Council Members want to hear from the members of the public, whom they were elected to serve, and allow them to exercise their freedom of speech by providing multiple opportunities for public comment at regular meetings. The following rules have been adopted:
A) There are two public comment periods on the agenda of each City Council meeting. The first provides an opportunity for members of the public to comment on agenda items prior to legislative action being taken by City Council. The second public comment period is held at the end of the agenda and is reserved for any additional matters to be brought to the attention of City Council.
B) Speakers addressing City Council during the public comment periods will be asked to state their name and address for the meeting record. If a group of citizens wish to comment on an issue and/or topic, they are asked to select a spokesperson to speak on behalf of the group or organization.
C) Speakers will be limited to three minutes and each speaker is limited to one issue and/or topic. The Mayor, or in his absence the Vice-Mayor, has the discretion to allow the speaker to continue beyond the allotted time or may ask the speaker to summarize or conclude his or her remarks.
D) Speakers shall make every attempt to keep their comments concise and focused upon the item under consideration and shall avoid repetition of the comments of previous speakers on the item. The purpose of public comment is to provide information and the speaker’s views for City Council consideration. It is not an opportunity for members of the public to question Council Members or City Staff. It is not a debate and public comment speakers should not expect a back and forth exchange with Council Members. Any questions raised by a speaker do not have to be answered by Council Members. The issue or topic may be designated to a Council Member or City Department for appropriate follow-up.
E) Proper decorum must be observed during the public comment period by members of City Council, the Administration, City Staff, speakers and the public. Speakers shall refrain from abusive or profane remarks, disruptive outbursts, protests, threats, or other conduct that disrupts or interferes with the orderly conduct of the business of the meeting. Personal attacks on Council Members, the Administration, City Staff, other speakers, or members of the public will not be tolerated. No audience responses such as clapping or oral comments are allowed.
F) If any inappropriate comments are made, the Mayor will call the speaker out of order. If the speaker does not immediately stop speaking, the Mayor will call a five-minute recess. Inappropriate actions after the recess may constitute removal from the meeting.
