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Livingston commission approves handbook revisions after public pushback over public‑comment ordering
Summary
The City Commission approved updates to its handbook, including a threat‑response appendix and clarified conflict‑of‑interest language; commissioners added chair discretion to limit public‑comment time (not less than 3 minutes) in high‑volume cases after public commenters said an ordered four‑category speaker sequence would be divisive.
The Livingston City Commission voted unanimously to approve updates to its Commission Handbook, adopting a threat‑response appendix, incorporating the recently codified conflict‑of‑interest language, and agreeing on clarified procedures for public comment that give the presiding officer specified discretion when turnout is large.
City Manager Grant Gager presented the draft handbook and said the updates respond to recent community comments and operational observations. The handbook changes include a threat‑response policy (Appendix C), edits to public‑comment procedures, and cross‑references to recently adopted conflict‑of‑interest provisions. Manager Gager said staff would implement changes and circulate them.
Several public commenters objected to a proposed section that would order public comment into four categories (city residents, business owners, county residents, online commenters). Leslie Fiegel of the Livingston Area Chamber said the four‑category ordering felt ‘‘very divisive’’ and warned it could discourage participation. Another commenter, Patricia (SEG 2208), said categorizing speakers would make them feel insecure and urged the commission to preserve open public comment time.
Commissioners debated the goal of the ordering language — several members said it was intended to give priority to residents who pay city taxes when time is limited and to make high‑turnout meetings more practicable. Legal staff and the city manager noted Montana case law allows reasonable time limits of three to five minutes per speaker; commissioners agreed the handbook should state that the chair has discretion to institute an order and to limit commenters to not less than three minutes per person in cases of unusually large public turnout. The final motion approved the handbook as presented with manager‑proposed edits and the additional language clarifying chair discretion and a minimum three‑minute per‑speaker floor.
The handbook motion was moved by Commissioner Lyons, seconded by Commissioner Newts, and carried on roll call. During debate commissioners also asked the manager to clarify which handbook provisions are codified in municipal code or resolution and which are administrative practice. The manager agreed to incorporate the technical edits flagged during the meeting and circulate a revised version to the commission and public.
Ending: The handbook update takes effect as revised; staff will circulate the edited text and the commission asked for follow‑up edits to codified items and for a future addition describing penalty provisions for closed‑session violations.
