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Commission chair explains why public comment was removed from HDLPC agenda; members discuss restoring it
Summary
A commissioner asked whether the commission could restore public comment after the chair said it was removed previously due to a contentious hearing; the chair said the decision was hers and noted prior legal consultation.
A commissioner raised the absence of a public-comment period on the Poughkeepsie Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission agenda and asked whether the commission could restore public comment at the end of meetings.
The commission chair (name not provided) explained that removing public comment was a discretionary decision made during a time of particularly contentious hearings. The chair said the change was intended to keep meetings productive and that she had discussed the issue with the city council.
Why it matters: restoring public comment would change how community members interact with the commission and could affect meeting length and tone.
During the discussion Commissioner John said the commission should consider adding public comment back. The chair reiterated that the decision is discretionary and that commissioners may place the matter on a future agenda; she encouraged members to propose it as an agenda item if they want to restore public comment.
No formal motion or vote was taken. Commissioners did not adopt a new policy at this meeting; instead they discussed procedure and how the commission might manage public comment to avoid repeating past disruptions.
