Citizens get 5 minutes each to petition their county government —
The way public comments during meetings of the Fayette County Commission are handled underwent a change at the board’s Feb. 14 meeting. Time limits on public comments were imposed, though it remains to be seen how the new restrictions will impact public speakers.
As for residents who might have voiced an opinion on the changes, the meeting room was essentially vacant, with approximately half of the one dozen people in the audience being county staff.
The vote on putting time restrictions on the two types of public comments, one dealing with public hearings and the other dealing with general public comments, was unanimous.
The first of two public comments agenda items dealt with a 5-minute time limit being put on those comments not dealing with public hearings.
For the past several years public comments had no time limit. The new rule puts a 5-minute limit on public speakers. Prior to five years ago, there was a 3-minute limit on those making public comments.
The new time limit does not limit the number of speakers making public comments, whether one or 100.
It is noteworthy that, over the past few years, the majority of people speaking during public comments did so in less than five minutes. However, there were numerous occasions where a speaker would address the board at great length, sometimes 20 minutes or more. A number of those occasions also came with a long line of speakers waiting their turn at the podium.
The second time limit dealt with public comments during public hearings. The new time limit provides 20 minutes for each side. Previously, there was no time limit.
Historically, the commission allowed 20 minutes for each side to voice comments.
State law requires a minimum of 10 minutes for each side during a public hearing.
It would be expected that the commission might do as other local government bodies do before a public hearing, asking speakers to have their comments prepared before reaching the podium and to attempt not to repeat what others speakers have said.
Most local governments, including those in Fayette County, have time limits on public comments.
