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Mercer County adopts public-comment policy limiting general comment to three minutes per speaker
Summary
The commission adopted a public-comment policy that limits general public comments to three minutes per speaker and 15 minutes total, restricts off-topic or unlawful remarks and allows the chair to extend time in special cases.
The Mercer County Commission adopted a written public-comment policy after staff presented a draft tied to a statute referenced as 44-4-20.1. The policy, as presented to commissioners and distributed to staff and the auditor, sets a three-minute limit per speaker and a 15-minute total allotment for the general public-comment portion of regular meetings.
The policy specifies that public comments must be pertinent to current agenda topics or to the preceding meeting’s agenda, must not interfere with orderly conduct of the meeting and must not be defamatory, abusive, harassing or unlawful. The draft also allows the chair and the commission to extend time limits in special circumstances, such as when a budget hearing or a controversial agenda item justifies additional public time.
Commissioner Jean moved to adopt the policy and Commissioner Casey seconded. Commissioners discussed whether a fixed time slot should be listed on agendas so speakers would not have to sit through long meetings; the chair said the time can be shown on the agenda and that the policy is intended to cover general public comment rather than formal public hearings. The motion carried by voice vote.
