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Athens council limits public remarks to Public Communications section, sets registration requirement
Summary
City Secretary Bonnie Hambrick presented proposed rules clarifying when members of the public may speak; council members agreed to allow public remarks only during the Public Communications portion and to require registration cards prior to the meeting opening.
City Secretary Bonnie Hambrick and Social Media Manager Michael Hannigan led discussion on Feb. 18 about when members of the public may speak during council meetings under Texas Government Code §551.007.
Hambrick noted the council's existing rules, last revised in 2021, and presented options for whether the public may speak at the time an agenda item is called or only during the Public Communications section. Michael Hannigan clarified that under §551.007 the council decides where to allow public comment.
After discussion, the council reached consensus to allow public comments only during the Public Communications section of meetings. The council also agreed that speakers must complete a registration card and provide it to the City Secretary prior to the opening of the meeting. Council members clarified that if an item receives no motion or is denied, a member would need to make a motion to deny and that a denied item is ineligible to appear on the agenda for 90 days.
No formal ordinance or rule change was adopted on Feb. 18; staff will return with any proposed language if council directs.
