The rules haven’t changed, but from now on, they will be enforced;
That’s what Goodrich Village Council president Ed York said at the council’s meeting on April 9.
‘People have a right to speak, but they think they have a right to say whatever they want, whenever they want,? York said. That, he added, is not the case.
From now on, York said, rules regarding when and how people may address the council during meeting will be enforced, as opposed to the sometimes free-for-all atmosphere of meetings past.
‘There going to be some changes,? said York. ‘I have a legal right to run that meeting the way I feel it needs to be done to accomplish the business at hand.?
The announcement came in response to a finance meeting, where public discussion became heated and disrespectful, York explained.
York said the village council ‘along with other bodies of local government? follow ‘Robert’s Rules of Order.?
According to www.Robertsrules.org, Robert’s Rules are a set of parlimentary procedures that outline a code of conduct for meetings.
Village council representatives are not the only ones who have had issues with finding a harmonious way in which to communicate with the public.
Meetings of the Goodrich Area School’s Board of Education have become increasingly heated in the midst union and other issues, fostering comments that have resulted, in one case, in the removal of a parents by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.
Mark Griffiths, a vocal critic of the board, was escorted from the meeting by a deputy following his refusal to forfit the floor during the ‘public comments? portion of a meeting last November.
At that time, school board president Michael Tripp said he’d requested Griffiths be removed following his making comments Tripp interpreted as being derogatory toward individuals.For Tripp, a 13-year veteran of the school board, it was the first time in memory for such an occurrence.
York said he thinks the increasing pressures of a suffering economy are wearing on people and fostering feelings of frustration, which in turn are vented at public meetings.
‘My objective is to give the people every right to respond and let them know about (the issues),? said York.’It’s not that we don’t listen…we hear what they’re saying.
Currently, the public is able to address the council during the ‘public comments? section of the meeting, which occures early in the agenda? prior to any old or new business. Residents are not required to sign in as wanting to speak? as they are at school board meetings? but are asked to stand at a microphone and say their name for the council. Only non-angenda items are to be discussed at this time.
Additionally, residents are able to respond to each agenda item after it has been discussed by the council. However, York said he may reconsider that approach if it is abused by the public.
‘We want to keep (the meetings) as open as possible,? said York. ‘Unfortunately, if certain individuals are going to interfere with the process (things will have to change).
‘Give the council a chance to discuss it,? said York. ‘The council (members are) the ones who have been given the background information, the public hasn’t… We want public input. I don’t have an issue with it if it’s a calm situation.?
That ‘calm situation? is also sought by Tripp and Atlas Township supervisor Paul Amman.
‘I think for the most part, people that come to the dog-gone meeting come there because they are interested in what’s going on, and the things that they have to say are pointed and they are worth hearing,? said Amman.
Amman said that despite issues which have put a rift in the community, discussion at township meetings is civil.
‘People are basically polite and curtious and considerate of others,? said Amman. ‘We’ve just never had a problem.?
Residents wishing to address the township board are given opportunity during a ‘public comments? portion of the meeting designated prior to and following agenda items. Any subject may be discussed, regardless of whether or not it is an agenda item. Additionally, the public is typically allowed to comment on agenda items following discussion by the board.
Both Amman and York say no one has been removed from a meeting in the years they have served.
‘I’ve had to tell people ‘you’ve had more than your fair time, can you bring this to conclusion?? We’ve asked them to kind of get to the bottom line,? said Amman. ‘We’ve had some heated issues but …(residents) have a reason for being there. They’re usually polite and ususlly considerate of other people that need to talk.?
‘Every comment is important because somebody obviously has an opinion and they are entitled to be heard. Some comments are of a general nature and they are treated as such,? said Amman.
However, there are some methods to communicate any issues residents may have to their public officials which Amman reccomends, including: Come prepared to address the issue; clearly make the point and be prepared to answer any questions board members may have.
‘We try not to be advisarial,? said Amman. ‘I don’t think people come to our meetings to pick a fight. They come here to offer an opinion, and sometimes the opinion is in opposition to what the members of the board might think, but I respect everyone’s right to have an opinion. That might be the key, you have to respect everyone’s right.?
Residents ‘sure as heck have a right to tell you what they think,? said Amman ?…and they sure as heck have a right to disagree with you.?