Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trainer urges Harwich chairs to adopt clear, neutral rules for public comment
Summary
Michelle Randazzo recommended adopting consistent, content‑neutral time/place/manner rules for public comment, announcing limits in advance, and preparing to manage heated or disruptive speakers while respecting First Amendment protections.
Michelle Randazzo told attendees that public comment policies should be consistent and announced in advance. She said time limits and content‑neutral rules help avoid 1st Amendment litigation and improve meeting flow, and suggested encouraging speakers who have not yet spoken to do so before those who already have.
On managing disruptive speakers, Randazzo stressed the law requires a warning before removal and that removals must be tied to behavior (for example, threatening or imminently dangerous conduct) not merely the speaker’s viewpoints. "If you are chair of a board, do not volunteer or accept a nomination as chair if you are thin skinned," she said, urging chairs to remain composed and to take the high road when faced with hostile public comment.
