Salisbury counciltables review of new rules after public outcry over limits on comment and council president powers

Salisbury City Council on the evening paused consideration of a proposed revision to its Regulations and Rules of Order after lengthy council debate and sustained public comment that criticized the draft for reducing public participation and concentrating authority in the council president.

The move came after council members and the public debated provisions that would (as drafted) let the council president limit the number of times an individual could speak during the public comment period, make public comment at the end of a work session rather than after each agenda item, and set a uniform time limit for comments. Council members voted to table the item and take an additional week for one-on-one discussions and revisions.

The rules discussion centered on section 12 (public comment and participation) and a clause that allowed the council president to “limit the number of times and the amount of time a member of the public may speak.” Councilwoman DeShield urged striking language that could limit how often a person may speak; she said the change made her “very…