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Sullivan County councilors propose public-comment policy after residents accuse the council of withholding information
Summary
Council leadership introduced a draft public-comment policy and said they had discussed rules of order after a resident criticized the council for lack of transparency and silencing dissent during public comment.
Chair (speaker 1) said she and another member had been working for months on a public-comment policy intended to improve decorum and give every voice an opportunity to be heard; she distributed printed copies to council members and members of the public and did not ask for action that night.
During public comment citizen Greg Flynn (speaker 13) criticized the council for withholding information and silencing differing opinions, urging the council to "recommit to full transparency." Councilors responded by saying they are taking steps to improve meeting structure, will ask Baker Tilly to present more balanced information when appropriate and will ask the treasurer for additional reports to improve transparency. The council indicated policy wording will be brought back for future consideration.
