PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles commissioners want to make sure the public is aware of rules for speaking at open meetings.
Port commission rules, which have been in place for some time, include a prohibition against signs, placards and noise-making devices.
They say loud comments, clapping and booing “may be considered disruptive and result in removal at the discretion of the chair.”
Commissioners reviewed the rules for public comments at a Monday workshop.
It was a routine annual review, but recent contentious Port Angeles City Council meetings prompted commissioners to pay greater attention to the rules, said Commissioner Steve Burke.
City Council meetings in January and February drew large numbers of speakers, many of whom spoke against a 4-3 decision Dec. 15 to continue fluoridation of city water.
Ethics complaints later filed against council members included objections to a prohibition against signs and defense of vigorous audience participation.
Commissioners Burke, Colleen McAleer and Connie Beauvais reviewed the port rules with little discussion, saying they wanted to make sure the rules are easily accessible for speakers to know what the requirements are before they stand up to speak their piece.
They made one adjustment to the existing rules: specifying that they apply to workshops and regular meetings.
The rules always will be included in the agenda packets, commissioners decided.
The port’s rules limit each speaker to three minutes, with a total of 20 minutes of speakers during the early public comment session and 20 minutes during a session at the end of the meeting.
Port staff noted that at some City Council meetings, so many public speakers signed up to speak, the sessions lasted in excess of two hours, and the council was not able to complete the work intended during that meeting.
During meetings where a large number of speakers are registered to be heard, timekeeping is kept using a timing device with green, yellow and red lights, said Karen Goschen, interim executive director.
When a speaker has talked for two minutes, 30 seconds, the green light turns yellow, and at the end of the speaker’s time, the light turns red, Goschen said.
There might be times, commissioners noted, when a speaker has brought up an issue commissioners want to address immediately, and speakers’ time may be extended as necessary.
Other rules for speaking at meetings are:
■ All comments are to be made from the speaker’s rostrum. Each speaker must precede remarks by stating his or her name and address for the record.
■ Speakers are not to comment more than once per meeting, unless their comments pertain to a new topic they have not previously spoken about.
■ Disruptive behavior by audience members is inappropriate and may result in removal.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
