[Adopted 5-8-2008]
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Collier Township Municipal Authority
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the policy of the Collier Township Municipal Authority
("Authority") to strongly encourage public participation, inasmuch
as it provides the Board with an important source of ideas, as well
as informs the Board of many concerns in its service area. The Board
does reserve the right, however, to limit the amount of time allotted
for public discussion of any particular speaker(s) and/or issue(s),
in the interest of preserving an orderly and effective public meeting.
Some concerns can be immediately and quickly addressed following a
speaker's comments, while others may require more research and discussion.
When appropriate, members of the public are welcome to further discuss
their concerns with Board members following the public meeting.
In order to permit fair and orderly expression of such comments,
the Board will provide a period for public participation at every
public meeting of the Board and has formulated these rules and procedures
to govern such public participation in Board meetings.
At each public Board meeting, the Chairman will follow the rules
of the Board for conduct of public meetings in accordance with this
policy. This public participation policy shall be posted on the Authority
website and may be amended from time to time.
The Chairman shall be guided by the following rules:
A.
The Board requires that public participants be residents or ratepayers
of the Authority's service area.
B.
Residents and ratepayers requesting to address the Board must register
their intentions on the meeting sign-in sheet.
C.
Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and must
preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address and
group affiliation, if any.
D.
The Chairman may interrupt or terminate a participant's statement
when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene,
or irrelevant; and may request the assistance of law enforcement officers
in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's conduct interferes
with the orderly progress of the meeting; and waive these rules with
the approval of the Board.
E.
Paper copies of the meeting agenda shall be distributed to the public
at all public meetings and are posted on the website.
F.
During the public comments section of the public meeting, participants
may address agenda items and/or other issues. The Chairman, in his
or her discretion, may limit comments on non-agenda items to the conclusion
of the meeting.
