ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
I hereby request all boards, commissions and councils to cease and desist with the annoying practice of taking only public comments, but not questions, from constituents at public hearings.
Public hearings are supposed to be opportunities for common everyday folks not only to comment on a particular issue or proposal, but also to ask questions to seek more information.
It is far too often that public bodies dismiss questions from the public by insisting the hearing is only to take comments. When they disrespect people who ask questions, it is tantamount to the condescending, “Thank you. Now run along.”
It also contributes mightily to the public notion that the board already has its collective mind made up, regardless of how the people feel about it.
To be sure, boards, commissions and councils should not have to deal with deliberately nasty questions intended to embarrass, such as “When did you stop beating your wife?” and “How did bozos like you ever get elected?” But legitimate inquiries about the issue at hand, honest efforts to seek more information should be treated with respect.
So when public hearings are scheduled, boards, commissions and councils should make every effort to respect their constituents by attempting to answer questions truthfully. It’s a matter of showing good manners and moving forward the process of vetting a development, proposal or issue. Perhaps it will promote more information and enable the governmental unit to make better decisions.
And whenever someone from the public crosses the line with inappropriate questions or comments, it is well within the rights of the meeting chair to gavel them down.
Just don’t insult them with the equivalent of “Thank you… Now run along.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: In response to a question, my editorial would apply to all public comment portions of a meeting and to public hearings.
If Public Comment time became debate time, one or two issues would dominate the time and others would get no voice. Public comment provides for many issues to be raised in public. Like “brainstorming” or proposed actions before a “second,” the only way to move all issues raised is to have no discussion.
As a public servant representing the taxpayers, not answering questions is not only disrespectful, but unethical. The taxpayers deserve nothing less – they are shouldering the fiscal burden for your actions (or inactions).
If you don’t have an answer for the question, politely say you don’t know the issue well enough to give an answer, but you will contact them when you have an answer. They deserve an answer.