Politics & Government
Greenwich Selectmen Discuss Establishing Rules For Public Comment
First Selectman Fred Camillo said he'd be in favor of using a speaker sign-up sheet for public comment on Board of Selectmen agenda items.
GREENWICH, CT — Hoping to streamline proceedings and establish order, the Board of Selectmen is looking to create rules for public comment at its meetings.
The board held a brief discussion last week, and no action was taken. But the selectmen expressed support for the idea, which was brought forward by First Selectman Fred Camillo, who said he's been in conversations with town attorneys.
"We've seen some statements made that were not even close to being true, but yet we have to sit through them and it becomes a game, a joke," said Camillo of public comment at Board of Selectmen meetings. "I don't want to waste anybody's time. People are working during the day, and if you're not and this is what you do, that's great. We want to hear feedback, but we want it done in an orderly fashion."
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Camillo said he'd be in favor of using a speaker sign-up sheet for public comment on agenda items.
"If you want to speak on something, you have to sign up ahead of time, otherwise it's a free-for-all," Camillo said. "We can always amend something by a vote, but I think certainly we need to have balance in order. It's not a huge issue, but we want to make sure we're on top of it."
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Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan said she'd support the establishment of rules for public comment.
"As you know I'm a big advocate for public engagement, but I'm also a rule follower, and I do think as long as the rules are clear to everyone and they work in the interest of everyone... As I've said, as long as our legal department knows we are complying with FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), I'm perfectly happy to establish some rules," she said.
Most boards and commissions put two-minute time limits on speakers, and Camillo said the Board of Selectmen doesn't have to do that.
"To have somebody up there for 20 minutes is probably not a good use of time," Camillo added.
McGuigan said she'd support a three-minute limit.
"We'll continue to speak to the town attorney and get something public," Camillo said.
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