The county’s new Legislative Committee is tasked with an effort to end chaos during meetings. If that be the case, maybe it should begin at home with visitor decorum. 

During the last meeting, a visitor was allowed to interrupt, interject, and at one point argue with a member of the committee. Only once did the chairperson state, “You’re out of order, because you’re talking over him.” 

The “him” was a member of the committee. 

Establishing a policy should start with this committee requiring everyone to maintain appropriate decorum.

The visitor was a county commissioner. Not being on the committee makes you a visitor. Visitors shouldn’t be allowed to interrupt, interject or argue with committee members. 

Consideration should be made to adding this to the policy: 

It is the intent of the chairpersons of committees to maintain order and enforce Rules of Decorum during meetings. Rules of Decorum will be included in the agenda and will be referenced at the beginning of each meeting. A written list of the Rules of Decorum will also be printed and mounted upon the walls of the committee meetings are held. They are as follows:

• Visitors should remain silent while business is being conducted.

• Visitor should refrain from private conversations. 

• Visitors must refrain from disruptive behavior, such as commenting, shouting, booing, clapping, stomping feet or other inappropriate and/or disruptive behavior. 

• Visitors who wish to speak must raise their hand and be recognized by the chairperson. 

• It is within the chairperson’s discretion to allow visitor comments when business is being conducted. 

• If allowed to do so, the visitor must stand and state their name and address.

• Comments must be made to the chairperson.

• Questions to committee members or county staff will be facilitated by the chairperson.

• Visitors will refrain from making comments of a personal nature regarding others.

• Visitors will refrain from the use of obscene language or “fighting words” likely to incite violence.

• Comments, during business, will be limited to one (1) per visitor and limited to two (2) minutes. 

• After business concludes, the chairperson may open the floor to visitor comments. Visitors wishing to speak must raise their hand to be recognized and conduct themselves according to the above guidelines.

It is the intent of the committee chairperson to maintain order and enforce Rules of Decorum during meetings. Disregard of these rules will be met with the following consequences:

The public has a right to attend government meetings, except executive sessions, but they should be respectful and allow business to be conducted uninterrupted.

Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191.