HAMLET — City leaders adopted a new policy aimed at maintaining “decorum” as the first order of business for the first meeting of the new year on Jan. 13.
City Manager John Terziu said that, after the last several meetings, he was asked to work with City Attorney T.C. Morphis in researching and developing rules for decorum to govern the way public comment periods are handled.
“We actually pulled those from a few other cities and did our research and made sure we were statutorily sound,” Terziu said.
The rules, Terziu continued, are “not intended to regulate or limit the content or viewpoint of speech, but rather to ensure that public meetings are conducted in a civil, orderly and efficient manner so that the city’s business may be conducted without disruption.”
The first section states that the rules apply to everyone speaking during the public comment period of regular council meetings, as well as those in attendance at all city council and other public meetings.
The first rule limits speakers to three minutes and gives the mayor or presiding officer discretion to increase or decrease the time allotment “to manage the agenda efficiently.”
Speakers must sign up in advance, however the rules do not state how much in advance.
The rules prohibit speakers from using the public comment period, which is usually toward the end of the meeting, to discuss matters of which there was a public hearing during said meeting.
They are also not allowed to transfer their time to any other speakers, and no substitutions are allowed from the initial sign-up. Speakers can only address the council once during each meeting.
Under the Standards of Conduct portion of the rules, speakers are prohibited from:
The rules go on to prohibit comments, questions, applause, jeering or disruptions from the audience, and bans speakers from addressing or engaging the audience. Those in the crowd are barred from interrupting council members or speakers.
Speakers, according to the rules, should not expect an immediate response from council members: “The Mayor or presiding officer may request follow-up by the City Manager or staff after the meeting if appropriate.”
Consequences for violators range from a warning to loss of speaking time and could result in being “directed” to leave the meeting. Violators could also be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Section VI states: “If any provision of these Rules is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions, which shall remain in full force and effect.”
Mayor Pro Tem Abbie Covington commented that “It sounds like a wonderful presentation,” before making a motion to approve the rules, which was seconded by Councilman Eddie Martin. The measure was adopted with no opposition.
See the entire policy below.
On Jan. 28, the city also posted to its Facebook page a policy — presumably passed in 2023 — that states the city has the right to delete submissions that contain:
The post also states that the city can delete comments that are:
