The Smithfield School Committee held the first reading Jan. 2 of proposed revisions to the district's public comment and participation policy (EEPH), including a provision that would allow the chair to reduce individual public-speaking time from five minutes to three minutes at the chair’s discretion.

Administration explained the policy has not been revised in some time and the suggested change is intended to keep meetings from running long on non-agenda items while preserving the ability to handle substantial public issues through future agenda placement, public hearings or workshops.

Committee members raised concerns that the shorter time could limit public participation; one member proposed adding language allowing the committee, by majority vote, to extend the public comment period in specific circumstances. Committee members also discussed whether comments made about agenda items should receive the longer allotment; administrators said the three-minute control was intended for time management of lengthy public commentary.

School district counsel (identified as Sean) reminded the committee that under the Open Meetings Act (OMA) the committee cannot engage in substantive discussion on matters not posted on the agenda and that on‑the‑record deliberations about non‑agendized matters could raise OMA complaints. Counsel advised that committee members may, after the meeting, speak privately with commenters and direct them to the superintendent for follow-up.

The item was a first reading; no vote on policy adoption was taken.