City Council approved public speaking segment during regular meetings

By Barbara Taormina

Residents will now have the opportunity to voice their views on issues pertaining to the city council’s agenda at the start of each meeting.

City Council President Anthony Cogliandro proposed amendments to council rules at the board’s last meeting.

“This is just to make meetings more efficient and give residents the chance to offer their thoughts with no interruptions on anything on the agenda,” he told fellow councillors.

Cogliandro proposed opening each meeting with a public comment segment capped at 30 minutes.

“It’s the same thing the School Committee does except I doubled the time,” said Cogliandro.

Councillor-At-Large Michelle Kelley asked if the public comment segment would be the only time residents could speak at meetings.

Cogliandro explained that it would not apply to public hearings since those include opportunities for proponents and opponents to voice their support or concerns about specific issues.

According to Cogliandro, residents would be able to look at the council’s agenda and prepare their remarks. He also said it would avoid having people sitting in the council chamber waiting for hours for their item on the agenda to be heard.

Cogliandro said if the new system doesn’t work, the council can change it.

“If the council is not happy, we’ll put it right back the way it was,” he said.

Council Vice President Ira Novoselsky had no objections to creating a public comment segment; however, he did suggest an announcement to turn off cell phones at the start of meetings would be helpful.

Councillors voted in favor of Cogliandro’s motion to set aside time for public comment.