There is an on-going feud between two prominent local conservatives. On his radio show yesterday, Rob Tayor again harshly criticized Board of Commissioners (BOC) Chair, Bob Main for restricting public comments at meetings. Previously the BOC allowed people at regular meetings to speak on any topic for up to 3 minutes. County Commissioner Rod Taylor (no relation to Rob) has introduced a resolution to rescind Chair Main’s restrictions. No meet has yet been scheduled to consider his resolution.
On February 7, BOC Chair Bob Main limited public comments at meetings to agenda items only. He told those trying to talk on other subjects to sit down or be escorted out by police. When the BOC meeting agenda for February 21 was released it had no agenda line at all for public comments.
In response Rob Taylor posted some nasty comments about Mr. Main. The post included a cartoon of Chair Main sitting on a throne wearing a crown. The image was labeled “King Bob The Silencer”. King Bob is saying, “SILENCE!!! Take your seat or you will be removed”.
Rob Taylor’s post also said, Commissioner Main’s comment restriction was, “in retaliation” for a Christian prayer made during public comment at a previous meeting. Mr. Taylor stated, “Both Commissioner John Sweet and Commissioner Rod Taylor had nothing to do with this policy change.” Mr. Taylor has identified the prayer giver who offended Chair Main only as, “Brother William”.
At the February 21 meeting Chair Main did allow people to make comments on agenda items as they came up. Some people spoke multiple times. BOC policy on meeting comments says, “The Chair or presiding officer may regulate the length and timing of public participation and limit appearances to presentations of relevant points.” Traditionally the Chair has wide discretion in this area. The Chair position is usually rotated annually between all three commissioners.
Public speech enhances democracy, its downside is longer meetings, keeping county employees away from their jobs. Some suggest moving comments to the end of meetings. The downside of this is that the BOC would make some decisions before citizens could comment.
