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Commission adopts updated rules of procedure, adds conduct and signage provisions
Summary
After extensive debate on signage, decorum and public‑comment limits, the commission approved a rewritten rules-of-procedure document clarifying conduct rules, personal‑information requirements and a 60‑day exclusion penalty for disruptive speakers; the measure passed 9–2.
The Augusta–Richmond County Commission voted on May 21 to adopt revisions to its rules of procedure intended to modernize style, clarify the role of Robert’s Rules for motions and add explicit conduct provisions for the public-comment period.
City Attorney Jim Plunkett outlined three change areas: stylistic and indexing fixes; alignment with Robert’s Rules of Order; and substantive edits covering signage, disruptions and the handling of identifying information for speakers.
New language includes a rules-of-conduct section that lists examples of disruptive behavior (shouting, chanting, signage that materially disrupts a meeting) and a penalty mechanism allowing the commission to vote to exclude a disruptive speaker from the chamber for up to 60 days. The revised draft also clarifies the treatment of personal‑identification details submitted to the clerk and retains a 90‑day rule that limits repeat public comment on the same subject.
Commissioners debated First Amendment implications of signage rules, whether the chair’s discretion might be overbroad and whether the document should be sent back to committee for further review. A substitute motion to send the rewrite back to committee failed; a subsequent motion to adopt passed 9–2, with Commissioners Stacy Pulliam and Jordan Johnson voting no.
Attorney Plunkett said the changes largely codify existing practice and aim to reduce confusion about motions and enforcement; he said some elements remain flexible to allow fair treatment of speakers and to avoid penalizing legitimate, germane comment.
The commission instructed staff to publish the updated rules and provided direction that the clerk use the clarified forms for delegation submissions going forward.
Next steps: staff to publish the updated rules and update procedural materials; the clerk will use the clarified public‑comment forms and monitor compliance.
