Mediaboss Marketing

GRAHAM A policy to regulate how comments and suggestions from the public are presented to the city council was adopted Tuesday, but not without at least one resident warning the action bordered on censorship.

The resolution was initially suggested in January by councilman Chip Turner following an acrimonious election season in Graham, particularly in the mayors race, in which members of the public stood to speak on occasion to blast the council and mayor for what they called lack of leadership.

The 11-point proposal calls, in part, for anyone wishing to speak to sign up from 15 minutes before the meeting until the time for comments to be heard, usually at the end of the meeting agenda. Items addressed by the public should not be items already on the agenda or items scheduled for closed-door considerations.

Comments would be limited to four minutes per speaker. Presentations should remain civil in their language and presentation. Speakers must address the council, not a particular member, and discussions between speakers and members of the audience will not be allowed. It is recommended that if there are several people wishing to speak to the same subject, they choose one person to speak for them all.

Speakers would not be allowed to discuss the candidacy of any person seeking public office, including the speaker. This item brought complaint from Ron James, who ran for the council in the November election.

Youre on dangerous ground, he said. This is close to censorship. He added that if a councilman worries about his character being defamated cq, he shouldnt have run for council.

Mayor Jerry Peterman countered that the policy is not censorship, but a way to keep meetings running smoothly and more efficiently.

Its not censorship, he said, adding comments in the meeting were not like comments made in public on a street corner.

Why would you want to come to the council and discuss someones candidacy anyway? councilman Turner asked.

James maintained any restriction on speech is censorship and should be avoided.

Read the original post:
Graham council changes policy on public comments