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Narberth adopts revised rules of council and public-comment guidelines after months of drafting
Summary
Council adopted Resolution 2025-07 to revise the council manual and rules of procedure and to adopt new public-comment guidelines and a policy about council members' private contacts with interested parties. The measure passed 6-0; members said the changes mostly codify existing practices and address hybrid meeting technology.
Council voted 6-0 to adopt the borough dministrative manual and revised rules of procedure, including updated public-comment guidelines and a new provision asking council members to exercise care when discussing borough business privately with individuals who have development or property interests.
The public-comment guidelines set a three-minute limit for speakers (with limited flexibility at the chair's discretion), clarify the purpose of public comment as feedback rather than a question-and-answer forum and describe expectations for the borough V technology used to stream and archive meetings. The rules change also codifies that the chair may proceed if remote AV access fails and that in-person attendance is preferred for participants and chairing.
Council members said the changes mostly reflect long-standing practice; several members thanked Councilmember Gabbardini (primary drafter) and staff for the work. One added new paragraph (discussions with interested individuals) that requires a council member who meets privately with someone who has development interests to avoid implying they represent council's consensus and to state they speak only for themselves.
Why this matters: The rules clarify how public comment will be handled and codify expectations for in-person versus remote participation and for private councilmember contacts with interested parties. Council adopted the resolution after committee review and a lengthy drafting process.
What happens next: The updated manual and public-comment guidelines will be posted and used at future meetings. Councilmembers and staff said they will circulate the manual and proceed under the new rules.
