Hamilton County Commission considers changing its rules for public comments
The Hamilton County Commission is set to vote Wednesday on amendments to commission meeting proceedings that, if passed, would go into effect that day.
Among the changes is a requirement for citizens to notify county staff at least a week in advance if they want to speak to the commission concerning items not on the agenda. They would be required to provide their name, address and subject.
According to the resolution, “the discussion of matters previously addressed to the commission may be denied due to repetitiveness.”
In a phone interview, Commission Chair Jeff Eversole, R-Ooltewah, said the commission allows for public comment for each resolution on the agenda at the time the resolution is brought before the commission in accordance with state law.
“Since the public does have a chance to talk about anything that’s on the agenda during the actual agenda itself when the agenda comes up, we’re kind of refocusing the comment section at the end to announcements as it was originally intended,” he said. “It’s not designed as a dialogue, and it was becoming a dialogue.”
Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell, who was asked to leave a recent commission meeting after mentioning Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp while making a public comment, said by phone she opposes the public comment rule change.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” she said. “I think government should encourage conversations with the citizens, and I think this discourages it.”
Campbell said the requirement for citizens to notify commission staff a week in advance
to obtain permission to comment at a commission meeting limits the ability to engage with their governing body on current issues that happen throughout the week.
The resolution also prohibits speakers from singling out or verbally attacking commission members, county employees or their family members.
Other proposed changes to commission meeting proceedings include a requirement for commissioners to present matters not on the meeting agenda to the chair within 48 hours of the meeting for the chair’s approval to be included in the meeting. Commissioners or other elected officials wanting to read a statement that does not relate to items on the agenda must read the statement themselves and file a copy with the clerk’s office, according to the resolution.