Contract and Compliance Board allows limited public Q&A, agrees to revise comment policy
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Summary
After a public comment from a former NDOT worker, the board voted to make a one-time exception to permit follow-up questions and directed staff and counsel to draft a written public-comment policy that may include a short post-comment Q&A and procedures for routing complaints.
The Contract and Compliance Board on Monday agreed to make a one-time exception to its public-comment rules so that members could ask brief follow-up questions of a single speaker, then directed staff and counsel to draft a formal policy for future meetings.
Jacob Miller, who said he served the city of Nashville in public works/NDOT for 13 years, told the board he had "identified a systemic flaw in the department" and asked "for NDOT to be evaluated alongside any private contractors in regard to our safety and efficiency and to be held to the same standards." After discussion about meeting procedure, Speaker 9 moved that the board allow an exception for the night; the motion was seconded and carried.
Legal counsel advised that while the board can adopt a policy permitting questions, it cannot take substantive action on a complaint brought during the public-comment period without placing the matter on a future agenda and providing proper public notice. "Under an open meetings requirement, you can't do anything at that meeting because it wasn't on your agenda," counsel told members, recommending a written revision to the board's public-comment policy to clarify whether follow-up questions are allowed and how staff should handle complaints submitted at meetings.
Board members said they want clear, consistent rules so the public understands what the board can and cannot do. Chair noted the need to avoid giving "false hope" to complainants while still providing accountability and follow-up. The board asked staff and its consultant to return with a proposed policy and standard operating procedure that would describe time limits for commenters, a possible short Q&A period (members discussed a 15-minute limit for follow-up) and steps for routing complaints to the appropriate Metro office.
The board did not adopt a final public-comment policy at the meeting; members agreed to consider a drafted amendment at a future, properly noticed meeting.