Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Engagement Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Candidates split on where to schedule public comment; several back moving it to the top
Summary
At the forum candidates debated whether unscheduled public comment should occur at the beginning or end of city commission meetings; multiple candidates proposed quarterly town halls and other outreach to increase participation.
Candidates at the Fernandina Observer forum debated where unscheduled public comment should appear on commission agendas and how to improve civic engagement.
Christy Kelly said she would move public comment to the start of meetings because ‘‘we are public servants and we need to listen to our constituents.’’ Tim Poynter and Joyce Tooten also favored moving unscheduled public comment to the front, with Poynter pointing to past practice and Tooten describing instances where residents waited until the end of meetings to plead urgent issues.
Bradley Bean defended the current hybrid approach, saying public comment is available at multiple points — on agenda items, at workshops and at the end of meetings — and described a procedural rationale for prioritizing scheduled speakers for items that will be voted on. Denise Mitchell said she would propose moving public comment to the beginning of the agenda at a workshop and suggested holding quarterly town halls and additional listening sessions.
Candidates emphasized practical options such as limiting early‑meeting speakers to the first ten attendees or shortening initial remarks to ensure both timely council business and access for residents.
Why it matters: The scheduling of public comment affects who can be heard and when, with direct consequences for residents seeking timely intervention on urgent issues such as flooding or code enforcement.
