Resident John Board urges council to adopt Rule 14, says proposal lacked council outreach

John Board, a New Britain resident who identified his address as 80 Highland Terrace, urged the Common Council on June 25 to adopt a proposed 'Rule 14' to establish standards for public participation and decorum. He said the rule is "simple, fair, and modeled on the long‑standing practices of the general assembly" and that it would "protect the right of the public to be heard and ensure that business can be conducted without disruption, intimidation, or theatrics."

Board told the council he submitted the proposal in writing and expected collaborative review but that he has encountered "zero outreach, zero discussion, and zero engagement" from council members since then. "If you're opposed to something, you have an obligation to put an alternative on the table and not just say no," he said.

The proposal was framed by Board as intended to protect both free expression and orderly proceedings: "Rule 14 is not about censorship. It's about accountability," he said. He urged council members to offer edits or alternative language if they disagreed with the draft rather than simply rejecting it.

Alderwoman Scott responded that she heard Board's concerns and would take time to review the proposal. She told Board she had not heard other residents say they felt unable to speak at council meetings and reiterated that "everybody's welcome to speak and say whatever they'd like to say here."

The clerk confirmed Board had stated his name and address for the record and that no other speakers were present or calling in; the public participation period concluded at 7:06 p.m. The council did not take a formal vote on Rule 14 at the June 25 meeting.

What happens next: Council members did not debate or amend Rule 14 during the meeting; Alderwoman Scott said she would review the language and the council can revisit the proposal at a future meeting if members request further consideration.