Don’t get into back-and-forth exchanges during public comment

© Can Stock Photo/urfingus

When city councils, school boards or other public bodies hold their meetings, it is usual to reserve a time in the meeting for members of the public to speak to their elected officials. One common name for this is the public comment period. We strongly recommend that elected officials should not get into back-and-forth exchanges with members of the public during the public comment period. (Note that a “public hearing” is a very different type of event, governed by different rules.)

Whose meeting is it anyway?

In most states of the union, members of the public are authorized by state law to attend local government meetings. These laws may be called “sunshine acts” or “open public meeting acts.” States usually allow members of the public to address their elected officials on matters of concern during the meetings. But though the local government meetings are HELD IN PUBLIC, they are not MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC. The meetings belong to the local government body that is meeting.

What is the purpose of the public comment period?

The purpose of the public comment period is for members of the public to inform the governing body of their views. This is an important function and it is critical for the elected officials to listen with care to the public, and to consider what they hear in their deliberations. It is also critical for the elected officials to convey to the public that they care! Don’t follow the example of a certain county in my home state of Washington, where the elected officials wander out to get coffee or check their cell phones while the public is speaking.

Why the public comment period is not a chance to dialogue

While listening with attention is critical, we believe that it is best not to enter into dialogue with the public during the meeting. It is highly challenging to give accurate responses on critical and complex issues on the spot. We have seen too many instances where the discussion degenerates into a back-and-forth exchange that ends up creating more heat than light. To use a slang expression, sometimes the meeting goes “down the tubes” and never really recovers. This can lead to a fraught atmosphere at future meetings, public outrage, and a general loss of confidence in the board or council.

What should you say?

In general, it is best not to respond at all to public comment. However, the chair may provide brief factual information, if appropriate. This must not degenerate into lecturing or criticism.

The best approach is for the chair to say, “Thank you for your comment” to each speaker. Keep a warm and pleasant expression if the speaker was complimentary, or a neutral face if not, and then move on to the next speaker. Don’t play favorites with the public, and do your best to treat all speakers the same. Be sure to observe any time limits consistently.

How can you appear interested and concerned if you can’t answer?

It isn’t easy, but the chair and the members of the public body convey interest and concern by their body language. Ideally they should listen to each person speaking as if there were no one else in the room.

Structuring the public comment period

You can also take structural steps to let the public know how much you care. We recommend:

  • Announcing the policy at the beginning of each meeting, so people know they won’t be getting answers to their questions or concerns during the public comment period.
  • Providing a handout on the policy, including an invitation to submit comments in writing and other ways to make your views known.
  • Having a staff person available so people with specific concerns can convey them, to be addressed after the meeting by the appropriate party.
  • Establishing other channels to connect with your public, such as community forums, personal discussions, “coffee with the mayor,” a form on your website, surveys, etc.

More information

Guidelines for Public Comment in Local Government

Don’t include detailed public comment in meeting minutes.

Download our Citizen’s Guide for short and reader-friendly explanation of many aspects of local government meetings.  Citizen’s Guide to Effective Public Meetings

Here’s an interesting article on this topic about the City of Camas Washington.

Conclusion

With proper preparation and consistent implementation, the public comment period can be an important part of your meetings and help you serve your constituency well.

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Ann Macfarlane

Ann G. Macfarlane is a Professional Registered Parliamentarian. She offers an interactive and user-friendly way to master the key points for effective, efficient and fair meetings. Her background as a diplomat and Russian translator enables her to connect with elected officials and nonprofit board directors and give them the tools they need for success. She is the author of Mastering Council Meetings: A guidebook for elected officials and local governments.

6 Comments

  1. Nancy Backus on March 6, 2018 at 11:45 am

    As always, great advice and insight, thank you, Ann!



    • Ann Macfarlane on March 6, 2018 at 5:42 pm

      Appreciate your comment, thank you Nancy!



  2. Joe Kunzler on March 8, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Ann,

    What would YOU do if you chaired a transit board meeting with somebody who came in with potentially a campaign sign and then started his public comment with a Nazi salute? Then he continues to insult the Board and possibly the employees calling them crooks, liars, thieves & Mafia – for starters – for carrying out & administrating voter-approved projects.

    I would like to think there’s a way to get boardmembers to eject such a bully. These Nazi salutes & name-calling – and the silent assent to them – make me as a transit activist VERY uncomfortable.

    It would be one thing if this troubled individual simply said, “I think transit is a waste of money and you all should give the money back”. If so, I wouldn’t be posting here.

    I await your thoughts on this troubling topic.

    Yours;

    Joe



    • Ann Macfarlane on March 9, 2018 at 2:18 pm

      Joe, this is a very challenging situation indeed. I can tell you that the courts have found that the Nazi salute is protected speech (see Norse vs. City of Santa Cruz). It appears that local government bodies have the right to regulate the time, place and manner of the public comment period, but all such restrictions must be viewpoint-neutral. Disrupting the meeting is not allowed, but mere words themselves generally do not constitute disruption. Signs in and of themselves do not seem to constitute disruption. In allowing the behavior you describe, the body is not assenting to it, but it seems to me is likely following established legal practice in this country. Yours, Ann



      • Joe Kunzler on March 10, 2018 at 11:34 pm

        Ann, thank you so much. I agree it’s a difficult subject. At least recently one local government – Community Transit – wised up and updated its public comment guidelines – see page 2 of https://www.scribd.com/document/373080792/Community-Transit-Resolution-03-18 .

        I agree with viewpoint-neutral. It’s a slippery slope when “The Government” starts regulating speech, but I would hope a general standard of civility and staying to an agenda topic are options.

        Finally, sincere thanks for all your efforts on educating the public on proper parliamentary procedure. I have your blog & newsletter on my RSS feeds!



        • Ann Macfarlane on March 12, 2018 at 9:38 am

          Joe, thank you for sharing this very interesting information. I look forward to studying it closely. It’s amazing how much detail may be necessary in order to cover the bases! And thanks also for your kind words – I’m delighted to know that you find our publications of value! With warmest best wishes, Ann