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Commission votes to send proposed 5-minute speaking rule back to rules committee after heated debate
Summary
The Blount County Commission discussed a rules change to limit speaking time for commissioners to five minutes per motion (Resolution 253014) and voted 16-4 to refer the proposal back to the rules committee for revision, after members and the mayor argued the change could hinder deliberation.
The Blount County Commission debated and ultimately referred back to the rules committee a proposed amendment that would cut commissioners’ speaking time to five minutes per motion (Resolution 253014). The commission voted 16-4 to send the proposal back for further work rather than adopt it at the March 20, 2025 meeting.
Supporters of the change, including members of the rules committee, said the proposal was intended to keep meetings focused and clarify time allotments per motion, amendment and other procedural actions. A rules-committee speaker explained that the 5-minute figure was allocated per motion (for example, twice on a motion to adopt and again on an amendment) and that the committee had discussed alternate approaches such as not counting question time against a speaker.
Opponents said a shortened limit could impede deliberation on complex or high-dollar matters. The mayor, speaking during the debate, said the commission approves roughly $280 million a year and suggested trimming debate to finish earlier could harm decision-making: “I would hate to think that ... a mistake was made or a question wasn't asked ... because you were limited on time,” the mayor said in the record. Several commissioners urged preserving longer discussion time or developing a clear question-and-answer protocol that would not penalize commissioners who need follow-up information.
The motion to adopt Resolution 253014 (moved by Commissioner Wells, seconded by Commissioner Reagan) was debated at length. Commissioner Caldwell moved — and Commissioner Bright seconded — a motion to refer the measure to the rules committee; that referral passed 16 yes, 4 no. Commissioners asked that the rules committee revisit question-handling, whether workshop meetings should be treated differently from full commission meetings, and practical mechanics (for example, whether the clock should stop while staff answer a commissioner’s question).
The referral means the rules committee will return a revised proposal to the full commission; no change to speaking time was adopted at this meeting.
