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Purpose:
Public meetings are essential to the democratic process. All Town meetings follow the Tennessee Open Meetings Act and are open to the public. Public comments at meetings are permitted, only as delineated below. These objectives and rules are established to allow the public’s business to be accomplished in a timely and efficient way.
Public Meeting Code of Conduct Objectives:
Observe the Public Meeting Rules and the Rules of Decorum.
Listen to understand, not to reply.
Speak with intention in a concise manner.
Be tolerant and respectful in disagreements with others’ statements or comments.
Express your opinion to educate board members, commissioners, audience members, and your neighbors with respect.
Public Meeting Rules:
All comments shall be directed through the Chair. Public comments are not a debate and there shall be no questions-and-answers as part of any comments.
Each speaker shall add their name and address to the Public Comment Sheet, prior to the commencement of the meeting.
All comments should be concise, non-repetitive, and shall not exceed two (2) minutes per speaker. Time cannot be shared or allotted with other speakers. Time limits may be adjusted at the discretion of the Chair. The allotted time of two (2) minutes shall include and commence from the beginning of the speaker's remarks.
The Chair can stop comment after time has expired or if the commenter has violated these Rules and/or the Rules of Decorum.
The Chair can remove the commenter from the meeting if violations occur.