Washington County presiding officer outlines new rules for public comment, warns against disruptive profanity

The presiding officer for the Washington County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday read a new set of rules of decorum for citizen participation, saying the guidelines are intended to protect attendees and remote viewers while allowing all viewpoints to be heard. "All viewpoints are welcome," the presiding officer said, describing the rules as "reasonable and viewpoint neutral" and grounded in court precedent on limited public forums.

The presiding officer said the county has received input from community members and that the rules are intended to prevent disruptions and preserve order so meetings can be conducted efficiently. He told speakers to "maintain a conduct, volume, and tone that does not disrupt the meeting," and said excessive, repetitive profanity that forces parents to leave or…