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Harnett County commissioners reject effort to restore five-minute public comment; debate over decorum continues
Summary
A motion to return the county's public comment period to five minutes per speaker failed after commissioners said an amendment required a two-thirds vote. Commissioners and several residents debated whether longer time limits improve public participation or invite disrespectful remarks.
HARNETT COUNTY — A motion to restore five-minute public comments for the Harnett County Board of Commissioners failed on a 3-2 vote after commissioners said an amendment to the board's rules would require a two-thirds majority.
The discussion began when a commissioner reopened consideration of Rule 30 of the board's rules and procedures, which the board currently implements as a 30-minute public-comment block with three minutes per speaker. The chairman moved to revert the limit to five minutes per speaker; after a point of order citing the board's rules on amendments the motion failed for lack of the required four votes.
Commissioners offered competing rationales. Commissioner Matthews said he had no objection to either three or five minutes but opposed repeatedly changing the limit: "I do have a problem with flip flopping back and forth... I just think we need to leave that until at least the end of the year." Commissioner McCoy said he supported public comment but urged speakers to show respect and avoid profanity when addressing the board.
Several residents who spoke during the public-comment period urged the board to keep or return to five minutes. Resident Caitlin Polanski said longer remarks help the public learn what's happening in the county: "If people are unable to attend this meeting... they should have the opportunity to hear from their neighbors." Resident Richard Chapman, a former professional writer, said three minutes limits meaningful remarks: "This podium is the biggest, most visible public forum in Harnett County... That makes minutes important, and I think that five minutes is essential."
Other commenters framed the debate as a free-speech issue. Jerry Rivas argued profanity is protected speech and said: "Profanity is first amendment protected free speech."
The board did not adopt a new time limit at the meeting. Several commissioners suggested tabling further changes until leadership decisions later in the year or until a scheduled work session; one commissioner asked to revisit the issue at the start of the year. The chair then opened the public-comment period under the existing rule: 30 total minutes with three minutes per presenter.
The board's action was procedural: the proposed amendment did not reach the two-thirds threshold specified in Rule 33 of the board's rules and procedure, so no change to the public-comment time was made. Commissioners and members of the public signaled they will press the issue again at future meetings.
