BOS redrafts ordinance after public comments
A proposed amendment to the Rappahannock County Code putting time limits on public comment went back for a redraft after residents spoke heatedly against it at last Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors (BOS) meeting.
The code now states that those wishing to speak on matters of the board may be asked to “tailor their remarks” or have a time limit placed on comments at the discretion of the chairperson.
The draft amendment would set a three-minute limit for public comment, allowing remarks only pertaining to that topic during a public hearing. The new language also defines a chairperson’s ability to set time allotments for public hearings based on complexity of the topic and expected number of speakers with “the goal of offering speaking time to all interested parties.”
During Wednesday’s public hearing, comments were heated, and many residents spoke against the proposed changes, particularly the three-minute time cap.
Karen Hunt, Amissville resident, said she sent a letter to the board that morning detailing her issues with the ordinance changes and how although well-intentioned, a three-minute cap would “significantly diminish” public comment and make the process more rigid.
“The original premise for this was a desire to assure the public a fairness, that civic engagement is valued. . . the board does not want to be so formal that it is rigid,” Hunt said. “Continuing to allow the opportunity for flexibility when it is warranted is important to the public. It signals that you truly value what citizens have to say.”
Adina Ordoñez, Stonewall-Hawthorne resident, said as it is currently written, section 30 is free speech, but cautioned that the proposed changes would make it “managed speech.” She said that may deter people from coming to speak at meetings, and a new ordinance would bring the county closer in line with Northern Virginia.
“Once we start down this road, we’ll be like other so-called ‘well managed’ counties of Virginia, where speech of the people is so heavily regulated as to make it fruitless for the public to comment on anything,” Ordoñez said. “Government by the people, is by its very nature, messy. You want neat and tidy, then let’s agree to dictatorship full of laws that manage how a person acts and speaks in public or even in private.”
Watch the Supervisors meeting:
Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., Sept 2024
Marlina Lee, Hampton District resident, said “three minutes is not enough time for me to articulate to you that three minutes is not enough time.” She said she has attended several public meetings, and never felt anyone spoke exorbitantly or was selfish with their time.
Other residents like Ron Makela, Jackson District, said Rappahannock County is unique and offers a slower way of life, which extends to public hearings. He and others reiterated that the county’s small population does not need the same limitations as larger counties in Northern Virginia.
“In Rappahannock, we’re all friends. And yes, let us get up here and vent a little bit, and everybody leaves the room happy,” Makela said.
County Administrator Garrey Curry said some “preamble” language was removed, and the changes “are not all that involved,” essentially providing definition to meeting procedures on public input that the board already practices.
Stonewall-Hawthorne Supervisor Van Carney said he is a First Amendment “absolutist, to a fault” and agreed that three minutes is not enough time. He said when the board first had a discussion on how public comment operates, their goal was to remove vague language that would “allow the chairperson to pick and choose” who gets to speak longer.
Carney said he does not like how the current draft is written, and said he would like the three-minute cap removed. He asked how the language could be crafted to be more concrete, and give the chairperson the power to set time limits that apply to everyone based on the topic and number of people present at the meeting.
“This ordinance needs to be changed to protect everybody who wants to come into this room to talk,” Carney said. “But I don’t think that this three-minute thing should be here at all.”
Curry said the language can be changed, and Hampton Supervisor Keir Whitson asked if the draft should be set aside and redrafted, and brought back for another public hearing. County attorney Art Goff agreed that that would be the best course of action.
Carney motioned that “this is not what we want” and that the language be amended to remove the three-minute cap, giving discretion to the chairperson on time limits.
Piedmont Supervisor Christine Smith spoke against working on the draft anymore, saying it is not an issue in Rappahannock. As it is currently written, Chapter 30, section 30 of the county code — which pertains to the conduct of public meetings — states that those wishing to speak on matters of the board may be asked to “tailor their remarks” or have a time limit placed on comments at the discretion of the chairperson.
Smith voted against moving forward with a redraft, with all other members of the board voting in favor.
Sign up for Rapp News Daily, a free newsletter delivered to your email inbox every morning.
Subtext 2024
