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Carmel board adopts tighter public‑comment rules after hours of debate
Summary
The Carmel Central School District Board on Aug. 27 adopted a revised public‑participation policy that limits public comment to two 30‑minute sessions, restricts naming district employees in many contexts and keeps a five‑minute speaker time; trustees and dozens of residents clashed over access, equity and transparency before the measure passed with one dissent.
After more than two hours of discussion and repeated amendments, the Carmel Central School District Board of Education on Aug. 27 adopted a new public‑participation policy that sets two 30‑minute public comment periods (one early, one late in the agenda), limits the first session to items on that meeting’s agenda and generally prohibits naming district employees except in narrowly defined personnel matters or when addressing the superintendent.
Board President Melissa Orser read the final text into the record before trustees voted to adopt the measure. The motion carried on a roll call vote after multiple amendments — including adding employees to the class of eligible speakers and clarifying how bilingual outreach will be handled — but drew sustained opposition from residents and one trustee.
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