Editorial: Let the public speak early

Editorial: Let the public speak early



From Staff
Publication Date: 10/28/07


The St. Augustine City Commission insists it is not trying to squelch general public comment at its meetings but sometimes actions speak louder than words.

The City Commission recently endorsed the move of general public comment from the beginning of the meeting to near the end to make way for earlier public hearings.

Mayor Joe Boles instigated the later general comment period for two reasons: to make public hearings more accessible for people coming to

them and to answer concerns of City Commissioner Errol Jones that public hearings kept being moved around confusing people on the night of the hearings.

Boles says he moved them up because of the crowds.

"I just don't like seeing all those people outside on benches watching us on television until it's their turn to speak at a public hearing because there's no room inside." he said.

So he's tweaking the order of business so that public hearings will go ahead of everything else on the agenda except the opening, invocation and awards and presentations. That way, most people will leave when

their issue is over opening up more seats inside the meeting room for others with other interests.

The perception though, is that the commission wants certain public speakers to go away, hoping that by placing general public comment at the end of the meeting, they will just leave.

Every local government has its gadflies. They won't go away regardless of where public comment ends up.

We encourage the public to speak up at public meetings offering new ideas or reminding commissioners of their previous comments and concerns.

We asked Boles if he perceives that general public comment speakers are interested in "open mic" and television "face time" early in a meeting to push their own agendas to a wider audience.

Boles said that's not his concern. "I get calls all the time from people criticizing what we do or offering suggestions. I want people to speak out."

Florida's open government laws guarantee the public's right of access to government. Unfortunately the laws don't mandate when general public comment is heard. The St. Johns County Commission, the St.

Johns County School Board and St. Augustine Beach City Commission have early public comment periods like the St. Augustine used to have.

Our advice to the St. Augustine City Commission is to let the public speak on anything they desire as early as possible in the meetings. Earlier is better than later so that everyone, including the commission, is fresh rather than tired and hungry. It just seems to be common sense.


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