THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170399
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
People soon may have more say at Currituck County Board of Commissioners meetings.
The board is planning to expand the public-comment portion of its regular meetings to allow people to speak on any agenda item.
Currently, people can voice their opinions or raise questions only on subjects not on the agenda during ``Public Comments.''
Public hearings are the only other occasions when the audience is free to speak its mind.
``I think the public is entitled to make a comment on the agenda,'' said board chairman Eldon Miller Jr. at Monday night's meeting.
``That way, the public is always heard. They're paying the bill, so why not?'' he added.
Miller and the other commissioners have been sharply criticized recently for not allowing some people to speak during discussions.
One instance earlier this year involved a resolution supporting a private prison in Maple.
The county held at least two public forums before passing the resolution. But several Maple residents were upset when they were barred from speaking before commissioners voted.
``We voted you in, we can vote you out!'' a woman shouted at commissioners as she stormed out of the courthouse courtroom. Others who left the meeting have complained publicly.
``We've been caught several times because of procedure,'' Miller acknowledged Monday.
County attorney Bill Romm said confusion has arisen from commissioners' inconsistency.
Board members can ask questions of audience members during discussions, essentially inviting their comments on an issue. But the audience has not been allowed to ask unsolicited questions of commissioners.
The board directed Romm to draft an amendment to the local ordinance to allow the change, with a sign-up sheet and three-minute limit required.
Once the amendment has been prepared, a public meeting must be held before the board can vote to approve or deny it. The process from drafting to approval usually takes about a month.
Commissioner Ernie Bowden, who must travel at least 1 1/2 hours from the Outer Banks to reach the meetings, was concerned sessions could become unreasonably lengthy, even with a time limit on each speech.
Other commissioners suggested one or two representatives be appointed when many people sign up to speak on the same issue. by CNB