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Council revises rules to add a consent agenda and manager's report comment period; public warns limits could curb full comment
Summary
Council amended its rules to add a city manager's report and a consent agenda; critics warned a combined five-minute limit for all consent items would prevent adequate public argument, but the council adopted the change 6–0.
The Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 27 amended its rules of order to add a city manager's report, a consent agenda and a manager's report comment period. The amendment passed 6–0 after council discussion.
Public commenter Mark Gedaljik Yotrovsky told the council that limiting public comment on multiple consent-agenda items to a single five-minute allotment for all items would prevent speakers from presenting reasoned arguments on each subject. He said the restriction would effectively cut the public out of meaningful participation on consent items. Council members acknowledged the concern and said they had discussed alternatives; they encouraged the speaker to meet with council members after the meeting to propose solutions.
The clerk recorded the item as adopted 6–0. The council did not amend the ordinance text on the floor that night beyond adopting the rules change as presented in the clerk’s reading; council members indicated they would continue discussing implementation steps for how public comment will operate under the new rule.
What happens next: the new rules take effect per council adoption; council members asked staff to consider practical implementation and to continue dialogue with concerned residents.
