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Commission adopts Pledge, agrees to a reflection and narrows repetitive-language limiting public input
Summary
The study commission voted to place the Pledge of Allegiance on its agenda, to develop a brief commissioned 'reflection' for meetings, and to remove a sentence in the bylaws that would have deemed prepared statements "unduly repetitious." Members also affirmed a 3-minute public comment guideline with one dissent.
The Silver Bow County Study Commission voted to add the Pledge of Allegiance to its order of business and agreed to adopt, for review at the next meeting, a brief reflection modeled on the county commissioners’ language.
Commissioners also amended proposed bylaws to remove a sentence that would have labeled prepared public statements that are read aloud as “unduly repetitious.” The commission voted to keep a three-minute guideline for public comment, a time limit one commissioner later noted carried a single dissent.
Why it matters: The commission’s bylaws will govern how the public engages with the body and how the commission conducts meetings and hearings. Changes to public-comment language, time limits and ceremonial items shape both access and meeting management.
What the commission did
- Pledge and reflection: A motion to include the Pledge of Allegiance on the agenda passed unanimously. Commissioners then approved giving a small committee time to adapt the commissioners’ existing reflection language into a “moment of reflection” and return it for adoption.
- Public statements and repetition: Commissioners voted to strike a sentence in the proposed guidelines that read, in effect, that prepared statements that are also read aloud “shall be deemed unduly repetitious.” One commissioner said the language could discourage speech and preferred letting members of the public submit written comments and also speak if they wished; the motion to remove the sentence passed.
- Time limits for public comment: After discussion about meeting management and fairness, the commission voted to retain a guideline that public comment be "limited to three minutes per person per topic," with one commissioner recorded as opposed to keeping the limit.
Rules and clarifications sought
Members asked the county attorney to clarify whether the commission should treat sworn testimony differently in public hearings and whether the commission may accommodate remote participation by electronic means; staff were asked to seek a legal opinion about proxy voting, oath procedures for public hearings, and what must be advertised in legal notices. Commissioners also directed staff to check the Montana Standard’s publication schedule when planning the advertisement timing for public hearings.
Ending
The commission held the bylaws themselves in abeyance pending the county attorney’s clarifications but directed staff to begin following the agenda format proposed in the bylaws immediately, including public-comment placement and notice timing.
