Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts new rules of order over objections about enforceability and First Amendment risks
Summary
After extended debate about meeting decorum, enforcement, and citizens' speech, the council voted along partisan lines to adopt a rules-of-order document adapted from county supervisors; some members said the draft contains errors and could chill speech if enforced improperly.
The council debated proposed rules of order adapted from the county supervisors' handbook for more than an hour, addressing topics such as the scope of public comment, when members can be censured, and the meeting end time.
Council member Stout said there was "a lot of good in here" but warned the rules are worthless unless the council follows them consistently; others raised First Amendment concerns and asked the town attorney about enforceability. The town attorney said this collection of procedural rules would not criminalize speech but could guide conduct and provide formal remedies such as censure if members violate them. After extended discussion and suggested edits, the council adopted the rules by a split vote; several members voted no and asked for further clarifications and corrections before full implementation.
