Council defines public comment

By Brooke Pankonin

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Grant City Council President Darrell Pierce opened the July 11 meeting with an outline of conduct expected of citizens during public comment. 

He said the last city council meeting on June 27 got out of hand, and with his inexperience in running meetings, lost control of it. He said they weren’t going to do that anymore and read the following statement:

“This is a public meeting of the governing body of Grant, which means that it’s the city’s meeting allowing the public to attend. It’s not an informal town hall meeting for a question and answer period. 

“The purpose of public comment is to provide an opportunity for the public to make comments to the governing body as a whole on issues of the city. It is not the purpose of public comment to present arguments, requests and expect responses from the governing body which is us, the council or the mayor, the superintendent, the clerk/treasurer, the attorney, the engineer, the public works superintendent or any other agent for the city. It is not to attack personally or professionally any of the city’s employees or agents. 

“If there is a violation of any of these public comment rules, the mayor or chairman will ask you to retake your seat. Your public comment for the evening will be finished. Any disruption will result in you being asked to exit the meeting if you don’t meet our requests.

“If you have questions for the city for which you desire an answer, we suggest that you contact the city superintendent or submit them directly in written form to the council or mayor, with a copy to the city clerk. It will be appropriately addressed in response as soon as possible.”

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