Speak Out on Freedom to be Heard at a Public Meeting

I apologized to the Mayor Moore for criticizing that the public was not allowed to voice an opinion at a recent City Commission meeting. I understand that that is the only legal time all the Commissioners are allowed, as a group, to speak and discuss with each other. That is good.

However, that apparently precluded anyone in the public open meeting from having a say, per the Mayor. How can members of the community be denied the right to speak at an open public meeting? How can the Mayor tell them they will not be allowed to be heard? Several members of the audience had a strong need to be heard. It was only with great reluctance that that was allowed. Does the City Attorney have an opinion? I’d like to hear it. – Margaret Betts.