They’ve been breaking the rules at City Hall lately.
Or, at least, bending them a little.
But we’re not here to complain. In fact, we’re here to encourage it. Because, in this case, that particular rule is the four minute limit on public comments during regular meetings.
Yes, we’ve heard a lot of opinions from the podium at City Hall recently.
But what we haven’t heard is the gavel bringing those comments to an end.
This hasn’t always been the case.
In past years, we’ve watched as speakers would have to stop mid-sentence and take their seat once their time expired.
This prompted us to write an editorial a little more than year ago asking for an extension of the time limit from three minutes to five.
It was ultimately extended to four.
Still, it’s tough to step to the podium and address a crowd with a quickly and quietly ticking clock in the background.
That’s why we’re glad that Mayor Sam Norton has mostly ignored that clock lately.
Because that, in turn, seems to have encouraged even more conversation from the tax paying public.
For example, the last two City meetings have had public comment portions that have stretched over 45 minutes.
Now it’s not without limits. The council members and City staff have actual work to do. So sometimes Norton will encourage the speaker to wrap things up. But it’s not the buzzer-beater white-knuckle countdown to cram in every thought that it once was.
And we want to give kudos to the Mayor and City Council for making the change.
This is the way to do it.
It might not make for a quick meeting. But we think it’s worth it.
After all, it’s the people speaking from the meeting room podium who pay for that actual podium and that meeting room…and, well, everything else.
So, yes, they may be bending the rules at City Hall lately.
But we say that’s a good thing.
Because some rules are meant to be bent.
