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Residents and council spar over proposal to cut public-comment time from six to four minutes
Summary
Multiple residents and council members urged the Edison Township Council to keep six-minute public comments, arguing a cut to four minutes would chill civic participation; council debate and a possible compromise of five minutes were discussed but no ordinance vote on shortening time occurred at the work session.
A proposal to shorten public-comment time at Edison Township Council meetings drew sustained opposition from dozens of residents and several council members at the Sept. 23 work session.
Residents who testified said cutting the current six-minute speaking allotment to four minutes would reduce meaningful participation and disadvantage seniors and community members who need more time to express concerns. Nick Fagan said, “Reducing the time available for public input diminishes our ability to engage thoughtfully,” and urged council to preserve six minutes for speakers. Several public commenters also raised the related concern that eliminating rebuttals would remove a vital component of open dialogue.
The council debated the change. Council Vice President said he opposed the cut and asked colleagues to keep six minutes; others discussed a possible compromise to five minutes. Legal staff and the council president noted that the council’s code includes procedures for rule changes and that some recent changes had not followed the full committee review process. Several council members requested the legal department return with written guidance about masks and the process for changing speaking rules.
No final vote on the ordinance to change speaking time was taken at the work session; the item remains under discussion and will return on the council calendar for further debate and possible amendment.
