Council Won’t Install Signals for Speakers

Red and green lights to signal how long a speaker may talk will not be installed at the City Hall podium, where the public addresses City Council members at bimonthly meetings.

Council meetings usually last four to eight hours, and the public is allowed to speak for up to 30 minutes. Each speaker is allowed 10 minutes.

During the last election campaign, several speakers, including candidates seeking public office, exceeded the time limit.

At a few past council meetings, members of the public and the council engaged in heated debate, peppered with personal attacks, profanity and name-calling.

The behavior and the lengthy public comments prompted Robert Johnson, president of the local chapter of the National Institute of Parliamentarians, to propose a civility code.

In July, council members adopted a rule: “All public comments addressed to the City Council shall observe civility, decorum and good behavior.”

Councilman Don Bankhead suggested that red and green lights might bring order to the meetings.

However, the boorish behavior has subsided, council watchers say, and public comments have rarely exceed the 30-minute limit.

Resident Virginia Neal said she studied nine recent council meetings on videotape and counted the public comment minutes.

She said she found that the speaking limit was not exceeded and that a light would not be necessary.

The majority of the council agreed.

“The current system is working just fine,” Councilwoman Julie Sa said.