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Residents urge more flexible public-comment sign-up; council to circulate draft changes
Summary
Residents asked whether the town could allow people who did not pre-register to reserve a speaking spot during public-forum meetings; councilors said they would circulate a draft sign-up approach and consider options that balance fairness and meeting logistics.
Several residents raised the issue of the public-hearing / public-forum sign-up process. One resident said they had not prepared comments in advance but, after hearing public discussion, wished they could have asked questions during the designated speaking time and asked whether the sign-up sheet could be "more mutable." Another speaker proposed allowing people who did not sign up ahead of time to reserve a spot off to the side during the meeting so they could speak later if time remained.
Councilors explained that formal public hearings require an initial sign-up and that large turnouts create logistical challenges; they said they would circulate a draft sign-up approach and weigh options about late additions or reserved spots for people who decide to speak after hearing discussion.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the draft sign-up procedure for council consideration. The transcript does not record an adopted policy change in the provided excerpt.
