NEWS

Ladouceur looks to extend public comment at Council meetings

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 11/9/22

When do we ever get enough time?

Those who follow the workings of government may complain that things move too slowly and getting anything done takes too much time. Or, there are those who say …

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NEWS

Ladouceur looks to extend public comment at Council meetings

Posted

When do we ever get enough time?

Those who follow the workings of government may complain that things move too slowly and getting anything done takes too much time. Or, there are those who say they never have enough time to air their complaints or suggestions to elected officials.

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur says the public isn’t given adequate time to air grievances or make proposals to council members. Last week, he docketed a resolution for the council to extend the 15-minute session for public comment.

But extending the pubic comment session would lengthen council meetings and City Council President Steve McAllister has made it a personal goal to streamline council proceedings with the thought of not having the public sit through lengthy matters of little public interest so as to finally reach an issue – such as a public hearing of a proposed zone change – hours later. McAllister has purposely planned for issues involving public hearings to be foremost on the agenda.

Public comment used to come at the end of the council agenda, which often meant those wishing to comment had no idea when they would get to speak. Council meetings that start at 7 p.m. have been known to stretch to 11 p.m. by which time most of the audience has left. Ladouceur promoted to change that to the beginning of the meeting, which is now the practice.

So, how much longer should the public be able to address the council?

Ladouceur doesn’t suggest a time limit, saying that should come through discussion among council members. He does feel, however, there should be a limit on how long someone has the podium.

Current with the 15-minute provision, the time is divided among the people who sign up to speak. With five people seeking to address the council, each gets five minutes. If only one signs up, they get the full 15 minutes. Ladouceur thinks 15 minutes is too long for one person to have the floor.

On the other hand, he says the council shouldn’t be watching the clock.

“I want to have ample time for taxpayers,” he said.

“It’s not about how fast I get out of City Hall,” he said of the possibility of extending public comment would delay council proceedings.

Ladouceur recognizes the open meetings law imposes drawbacks to an open discussion with taxpayers. Under the guidelines, the public is permitted to raise whatever issues it likes, but the council cannot answer questions or engage in a discussion. Under the law, the council is restricted to discussion to what’s on the publicly advertised agenda. Straying from that would violate conditions of the open meeting law.

As Ladouceur observes there’s noting from stopping members of the council from contacting those raising questions after the meeting to answer questions or to discuss the issue. 

Ladouceur, council, meetings

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