Citizen's rights at Public Meeting.

I received the following comment regarding my inability to respond to Councilman Burney's objections to my use of "beg".

Anonymous said...

Does the council set the rules regarding responses or is it part of parliamentary procedure?

August 13, 2008 6:02 PM

The rights of Citizens attending meetings is not part of Sturgis Code of Parliamentary Procedure which strictly refer to the organizational structure of the meeting and the "level" of various motions as well as the rights of the members of the official body.. It is covered,however in the appendix The body shall set the conditions under which citizens may speak. The standards permitted to the public are stated in the meetings agenda and those of the business meeting differ from the Agenda setting meeting. The Citizens have no right to interrupt the flow of business or act contrary to the rules set by the parliamentary organization and the privilege to comment is at the sufferance of the legal body. The chairperson or the body itself can alter the conditions at will.

The Public's rights can also be set b y legislative action.

Chairman Gibson was within his right to refuse to let me answer Councilman Burney, and to close the meeting at the end of the allotted 30 minutes. However, he had already extended it for one additional speaker and he knew I was waiting for a chance to reply. I considered it to be a discourtesy.

Just so this is not a half a loaf; Four unrelated pictures

A Chateau and Vineyards in the Burgundy Countryside
Steps, Mykonos Greece
Along the Canal de Burgundy near Dijon France. That is not mustard growing in the field but sunflower for seed oil. Dijon Mustard is made from seed grown in Canada.
A river side town in the Danube's Wachau Valley