Trenton council refines public‑comment rules after residents raise concerns

Trenton — City Council members and residents spent more than two hours debating how the city will handle public comment after several people criticized a motion the council adopted March 5 to set speaker rules.

Mayor Perry opened the March 12 special meeting by saying the March 5 action was adopted as a motion, not as a codified ordinance, and that motions “take effect immediately unless an alternate effective date is specified.” He framed the meeting as an opportunity for the council to explain the motion and to hear residents’ concerns.

The meeting’s public-comment period drew numerous speakers from Trenton and neighboring communities. “My ask tonight is that all parties truly listen to the person who is talking,” said Ted Farmer, a Trenton resident. Several speakers said the new rules risked chilling participation, especially from people who live outside the city but are affected by Trenton decisions. “It is shameful that we can have such disregard for other human beings that live just outside the city limits,” said Angie Markham, who urged better communication and transparency.

Council members debated each of the motion’s four numbered elements point by point. On time limits, the council coalesced around a flexible three‑to‑five minute standard — with an emphasis on curbing repetitive remarks and allowing the presiding officer discretion to grant extra time for substantive comments. “Some people are happy with five, some people are happy with three. We can go to four,” one council member said during the exchange.

On sign‑in procedures, council members and staff discussed several approaches: require sign-in a set time before the meeting, allow people to give name and address at the podium, or use a consolidated online form so the council can receive questions in advance and be prepared with answers. Staff proposed a form linked to the published agenda and suggested closing submissions the day before meetings so councilors would have time to research answers.

The council also addressed a provision in Trenton’s codified ordinances that references public comment by “citizens of the city of Trenton.” Staff noted that existing code language is written that way; some council members said they would prefer to open council‑meeting public comment to nonresidents while keeping tighter controls on audience comment at work sessions. Several members proposed drafting an ordinance to repeal or amend the citizens‑only language and discussed using an emergency, one‑reading repeal to make any change effective immediately, but no ordinance vote was taken at the special meeting.

Council members agreed on a rule limiting back‑and‑forth debate during the allotted public‑comment time: elected officials will generally not engage in live debate while a resident has the mic, but may provide an answer or follow‑up after the speaker’s time ends. The council also reaffirmed that speakers should address council, not other members of the public, and that character attacks are not permitted.

Mayor Perry and multiple council members thanked residents for attending and asked for continued civility. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the roll call vote to end the special meeting was recorded as unanimous, and the council adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

What’s next: Council members said staff will draft ordinance language to repeal or revise the residents‑only reference in the code and that the measure will be placed on the next meeting agenda (members discussed a one‑reading emergency option to make any change effective immediately). No ordinance was adopted at the March 12 meeting.