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Procedural challenge fails as motion to add public comment is rejected
Summary
A motion to add a public-comment period to a special FY26 budget meeting failed after a procedural dispute over time limits and whether public comment belongs at a special session. Council members clashed over Roberts Rules citations and the mayor's authority to limit speaking time.
Mayor Fleming opened a special meeting called solely to vote on the FY26 budget and announced a three-minute limit for individual council-member remarks and public participation.
Council member Wright objected, raising a point of order and asking for the Roberts Rules citation allowing a reduction from 10 minutes; Wright said, “I do not see where it allowed the reduction of our comment time to 3 minutes.” The town attorney and other council members offered competing readings of the rules, with counsel noting different editions of Roberts may read differently.
Council member Wright moved to amend the special-meeting agenda to add a public-comment period so citizens could respond to last-minute budget changes; a second followed. Council members argued the special meeting’s purpose and whether citizens should be allowed to comment on a version of the budget many had received only after 6:30 p.m. the prior evening.
After debate the motion failed in a recorded voice vote, with a majority of the council voting against adding public comment. The outcome left several council members and some staff publicly criticizing the process for the late distribution of budget changes and the lack of an opportunity for citizen input.
