County counsel announces public-comment rules for tonight's meeting

County Counsel Bergen told the Union County Board of County Commissioners that public speakers at the meeting would be limited to three minutes each and that a one-minute warning will be given before time expires.

The guidance, read at the start of the agenda-setting session, said speakers must stop when a red sign is held up and that no extra time will be allowed. Bergen said telephone use during the meeting is prohibited and urged in-person attendees to take conversations into the hallway so as not to disturb others.

The rules are intended to ensure everyone who wishes to speak has an opportunity. “Based upon the number of people we are anticipating will be coming before the board tonight to speak to ensure everyone who wishes has an opportunity to speak, the amount of time of each public speaker will be allowed during tonight's meeting will be 3 minutes,” Bergen said.

Bergen also outlined behavioral rules: audience members must not call out from the crowd or make comments outside their speaking time, must refrain from profanity or personal attacks, and may be removed for disrupting the meeting. To manage flow, speaking numbers will be handed out and called in groups of five; when a group’s numbers are called, speakers should line up down the middle aisle and wait until their number is called.

Additional procedural points included a warning not to block aisles and a reminder that violating the rules can result in a speaker's time being ended or removal from the meeting. These directions were presented before the board began consideration of departmental resolutions and other agenda items.