Montgomery mayor’s new public comment policy questioned

Criticisms lead to some changes

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — The public comment session during Thursday’s Township Committee meeting boiled over into a disagreement between Committeeman John Warms and Mayor Cecilia Birge.
   During the public comment session, township resident Eric Weitze was presenting concerns he had about the unpaved section of Dutchtown Zion Road.
   Mayor Birge, implementing a new policy about public comments that she had not discussed with the entire committee, said Mr. Weitze’s questions and concerns about the road would be answered at the end of the public comment period once Mr. Weitze’s allotted five minutes were finished.
   Mayor Birge, who was re-elected to the committee in November for a second term and voted by the committee to be mayor in January, said the purpose of the policy is to assure that the public comment period did not drag on beyond the five minutes per person.
   But the new policy disturbed Mr. Warms, as well as several residents in the audience.
   "I understand that we have a five-minute guideline — guideline," said Mr. Warms. "To say that we aren’t going to answer questions or have dialogue, I don’t agree with that. I think it’s regressive."
   Mayor Birge said she intended for the committee to answer the questions after the five minutes were up. Mr. Warms, however, said he did not think that policy provided for fair and open discussion between the committee and residents.
   "That sort of policy decision is one the Township Committee has to make," Mr. Warms said.
   Township resident Bill Randolph, who has been involved recently with the committee regarding his store, Montgomery Gardens on Route 206, agreed with Mr. Warms.
   "I have no problem with a timeframe. However, not to engage in a dialogue is wrong," Mr. Randolph said.
   According to Township Attorney Kristina Hadinger, there is no legal requirement that there be responses from the Township Committee regarding public comment.
   In the end, the committee members came to an agreement that the five minutes would remain a guideline and that discussion would be conducted between residents and the committee during the comment period.
   "Democracy is hard," said resident Dave Bekus, who was also in attendance on Thursday. "Whether you have to interact or not as a point of law, I think you should. Let’s get something that works. I do appreciate the interaction, I do want to see it continue."