Public Comment Policy

RESOLUTION

            BE IT RESOLVED by the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners that it adopts a Public Comment Policy for citizens of Rutherford County to address the Commission at its monthly meeting as follows:

1. Visitors may request to speak at County Commission meetings by having their names placed on a sign-in form by 4:30 p.m. on the date of the Commission meeting in the County Executive’s Office.  The visitor’s name and subject matter will be listed on the sign-in form.

2. This is intended to be a public comment policy and not a question and answer policy.

3. Visitors will be allowed to speak on a first come, first serve basis.

4. The Commission Chairman will call on visitors to speak after the reading of resolutions of sympathy and appreciations.

5. The Commission Chairman will have the discretion to look over the names of visitors who have spoken in the past in order to accommodate visitors who have never spoken.

6. A visitor will be strictly limited to speak for three (3) minutes with the Commission Chairman keeping time with a displayed timer.

7. Visitors wishing to speak regarding agenda related items will get priority.

8. No more than a total of thirty (30) minutes may be devoted to visitors who wish to speak.  Anyone not permitted to speak because of this time limitation shall be offered first priority at the next Commission meeting.

9. This Public Comment Policy will be reviewed after four months.