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Augusta charter review committee cuts public comment to 3 minutes, defers bylaws vote
Summary
The committee voted 9–1 to shorten public comment from five minutes to three and later voted 7–3 to defer final approval of bylaws and procedures so members can review documents posted in advance.
The Augusta Charter Review Committee voted 9–1 to reduce individual public-comment time from five minutes to three minutes and later voted 7–3 to defer a vote on bylaws and procedures to the committee’s next meeting on June 12.
The change to public-participation time was proposed by committee member Sheffy Robinson, who argued shorter statements would let more residents speak during lengthy meetings. “Three minutes, I think, is a great way. It’s enough, where people can prepare what they wanna say ahead of time, get to the point,” Robinson said during the meeting.
The committee then debated the package of bylaws and procedural rules that had been circulated. Several members said they needed more time to read the documents; committee member Lonnie Wimberley asked for earlier delivery and printed binders. After discussion the committee voted to defer final action on the bylaws and procedures until the next meeting so the clerk’s office can post materials and members have time to review; the motion to defer carried 7–3, with Clarence Powell, Charlie Coleman and Steve Foushee voting no.
Legal counsel described the draft procedures’ approach to speaker disclosures and offered a working definition of “immediate family” for the public-participation form. Attorney Plunkett said immediate family typically includes a person’s spouse, children and grandchildren and their spouses; he said the intent is to disclose potential personal or financial interests when a public speaker has a close family tie to a matter under discussion.
The committee also set a deadline policy for agenda additions: materials or requests to be added to an agenda should be submitted to the clerk by noon on the Friday before the meeting so the clerk’s office can assemble and publish meeting materials in time for public notice.
Directions: the clerk’s office will post the bylaws and procedures in advance of the next meeting and provide updated materials so members may review prior to voting. The three-minute public-comment rule is effective immediately for committee meetings.
