Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Severance adopts written public comment, public hearing and conduct policies to formalize existing practice
Summary
The Town Council approved a resolution adopting written policies for public comment, public hearings and meeting conduct; mayor said the changes put long-practiced rules into writing and clarify time and behavior expectations for commenters.
The Severance Town Council adopted a resolution formalizing three written policies — a public comment policy, a public hearing policy and a meeting code of conduct — at its Aug. 26 regular meeting.
Town Manager Nick Wharton said the draft policy reflected council direction from an earlier work session and does not change the substance of current practice; it separates general public comment rules from public-hearing procedures for land-use or quasi-judicial matters. Wharton told council the package “puts it into an actual policy so that we have it written and it can be adhered to by those that are coming to speak.”
Mayor Friess said the policy came from a Colorado Municipal League recommendation to codify well-established procedures so the public and meeting participants have clear rules in writing. Councilmember Vandermark said a comparison chart made it easy to see differences between general comment and public-hearing rules.
Action and effect Council approved Resolution 2025-32R adopting the three policies. Council members and staff emphasized the new documents largely formalize existing practice (timing for speakers, decorum and separate procedures for quasi-judicial hearings) rather than impose new restrictions.
Ending Staff will publish the policy documents and apply them at future meetings and hearings; council members said the policies should increase transparency and consistency in public meetings.
