Speakers will once again have three minutes each during the public comment section at Wake County school board meetings.
School board chairman Kevin Hill said he'd institute the change starting in January. It came after new school board member Jim Martin said giving three minutes would be a "gesture of good listening" as he also noted that speakers at Wake County commissioner meetings get three minutes.
Former board chairman Ron Margiotta had cut the time to two minutes in 2010, saying it would let the board hear from more speakers during the lengthy public comment sessions. Margiotta kept it at at two minutes even after the numbers dwindled for public comment.
One test for the new board majority will be what happens when large crowds show up to speak. Will the board extend public comments past 30 minutes or tell remaining speakers to go at the end of the meeting? The old board went both ways.
Comments
You need to pay attention.
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 20:17 — loriacYou need to pay attention. Me. Margiotta was too lenient with the antics of many in the audience, and the many speakers who wouldn't stop speaking when their time was up. The previous board had people removed from the meeting if they went past the time limit. And the 'animals' comment was not referring to a speaker but rather the people preventing an AA gentleman from speaking. And Mr. Margiotta has long since apologized. We'll see if Ms. Evans ever apologizes for her actions.
Citation?
Sat, 12/31/2011 - 13:15 — Dove314Can you point me to his apology? I know there are the quotes mentioned here from just after the line was caught on the WRAL feed but these remarks are not an apology. I didn't think he ever made further mention beyond these remarks.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/naacp-complaining-about-ron-margiottas-animals-comment
I hope you are kidding and will go
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 15:38 — tartexanI hope you actually plan on going and speaking to find out how you will be received.
I'm all for
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 17:45 — VillageMentalityGiving these nitwits a taste of their own medicine. However, anyone who wishes to utilize these tactics in the future hopefully will do so with more restraint and class. Oh, and yes and they will not be socialist/communist operatives who are from/live outside wake county or have no ties/stake in wake county education
Another test for the new board majority
Thu, 12/29/2011 - 18:15 — FSandYOUwill be what happens when people show up to treat the new majority the exact way at least 2 of its new members treated the last board.
What WILL THEY DO!
I'm curious too. What
Sun, 01/01/2012 - 16:10 — jenmanI'm curious too. What will they do if the same group of people show up each week, go over their allotted time and refuse to leave the podium until they are finished reading from their written speeches? What will they do if people in the audience shout out insults and make snide, sarcastic comments during board meetings and work sessions? It will be very interesting to see if a) anybody shows up to do these things and b) how they are handled.
What Will They Do?
Fri, 12/30/2011 - 19:24 — jgegbgmgHopefully treat them like your idol Margiotta did - Except they will not refer to the speakers as animals being let out of their cages. By the way FS, are you going to get out of your cage and go speak at the meeting? I'm sure everyone there would get a good laugh out of what you had to say! Plus I'm sure Ms. Evans will be more than happy to respond to any of your idiotic questions - It's going to be a long 4+ years for you so hang in there!