Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Rules topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Policy committee reviews proposed public-comment rule changes after legal briefing
Summary
The Newburgh City School District policy committee reviewed proposed edits to the public-comment paragraph; legal advisor Mister Shaw told the committee the edits are consistent with Commissioner's decisions and Committee on Open Government guidance, and members asked staff to ensure clarity before adoption.
The Newburgh City School District Policy Committee reviewed proposed edits to the first paragraph of its public-comment rules and sought legal clarity before moving the changes forward.
Mister Shaw, providing legal advice to the committee, said the proposed edits are "compliant with the law" and explained the role of the Commissioner of Education and advisory opinions from the Committee on Open Government. "The commissioner issues decisions which are administrative legal decisions that are binding on the district unless you would challenge them in court," Shaw said, and he noted that Committee on Open Government opinions are often advisory rather than legally binding.
Committee members asked whether following the commissioner's decisions would keep the board in a "safe space." Shaw recommended adhering to State Education Department (SED) guidance and related legal counsel, and he cited longstanding precedent regarding which community members may speak at board meetings.
Miss Peterson told the committee that members had been sent a copy of the proposed changes and invited questions; after the legal discussion the committee signaled readiness to refine the language and return the item for formal consideration at the board level.
The committee did not adopt any change during the meeting; staff were asked to incorporate legal guidance and return a revised draft for the board’s consideration at a future meeting.
