Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Participation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident tells council community speakers were blocked at a prior meeting
Summary
Nicole Catava told the Brandon City Council she and other community members were encouraged to wait to speak on specific agenda items at the Nov. 3 meeting but were not given the chance when those items were brought up; she urged council members to pause and allow public comment.
During the public-comment period, resident Nicole Catava (1805 South Parkview Boulevard) told the council that community members who had been encouraged to wait to speak on specific agenda items at the Nov. 3 meeting were prevented from doing so when the items arose. She said items were immediately motioned, seconded and voted on without allowing the public to speak and asked council members to "take a breath" and ensure the public’s opportunity to be heard.
Catava said she teaches her children that one of the best parts of American citizenship is the right to voice concerns at local meetings, and that seeing people in the audience prevented from speaking was upsetting. She asked council members to listen and to step in if they notice others "just going through the motions."
The council acknowledged the comment during the general public-comment segment but did not record a formal response or a recorded action to reopen the Nov. 3 agenda item. The transcript includes no recorded apology or procedural change adopted in response; the item proceeded to the scheduled public hearing and other business.
