LAWRENCE: Council to consider second public comment section

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   Since time immemorial, public participation at Township Council’s meetings has been held within the first few minutes of the session — but the council is considering whether to add a second public comment section toward the end of the meeting.
   Township residents Amy Davis and Allen Cohen have repeatedly called for a second opportunity for the public to offer comments, which Ms. Davis has suggested should be held after the municipal manager’s report.
   Township Council’s agenda begins with the mayor’s welcome and roll call, and then proceeds into a review and revision of the agenda. Public participation is next, followed by adoption of the minutes and formal action on ordinances, resolutions and contract bids.
   Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun makes his report on items that may not be on the agenda, and then Municipal Attorney David Roskos offers his report. There is room on the agenda for the municipal clerk to make a report, followed by “written communications” — letters the council may have received.
   Township Council moves on to “old business,” which are unresolved issues, and then entertains “new business” or new matters that are brought to its attention. After the “old business/new business” segment, the council may go into closed session to discuss pending lawsuits, personnel matters or property acquisitions, or it may adjourn the meeting.
   Now, however, Township Council is mulling whether to add a second “public participation” segment. Mr. Roskos suggested opening public participation to allow residents to make brief comments after the manager’s report when Ms. Davis and Mr. Cohen raised the issue again at the council’s meeting Tuesday.
   Ms. Davis brought up the issue of additional public comment at the July 17 meeting, after Mr. Krawczun reported on the possibility of additional layoffs to help balance the upcoming 2013 municipal budget. She said she would have like to have an opportunity to ask questions right away, and not to wait until the next Township Council meeting.
   But Township Council was not receptive to Ms. Davis’ call for another public comment section. She repeated her request at the Aug. 21 meeting, and was met with the same response — that the manager’s report is intended for the council.
   Mr. Cohen joined the discussion at that meeting and told the council that Mr. Krawczun’s report is for the benefit of the audience as well as the governing body. There is no reason why there cannot be a second public participation section, immediately after the manager’s report, he said.
   Tuesday night, Ms. Davis and Mr. Cohen repeated their call for more public comment.
   ”You could easily offer (public participation) in the beginning for those who couldn’t stay until the end, and offer another brief public session at the end,” Ms. Davis said.
   ”I understand you don’t want to be here all night, and neither do we. Our comments to date have been brief and if things are going too long, you could always ask commenters to wrap it up,” she said.
   Councilman Greg Puliti replied that Mr. Krawczun works for Township Council and that Township Council works for the people. The council receives information from Mr. Krawczun and the members need time to digest it and then respond to the public, he said.
   Ms. Davis disagreed and said that she did not think the manager’s report was exclusively for Township Council. The manager’s report is for the public, she said.
   ”If anything, I would put Mr. Krawczun on the hot seat — not you,” Ms. Davis replied.
   At that point, Mr. Roskos tossed out the proposal to allow a second, brief re-opening of the public participation segment, adding that “it’s just an idea to allow people to comment or respond.” He said there should not be any action on the proposal until Township Council’s Sept. 18 meeting.
   Mr. Cohen told Township Council that “you should welcome public comment. You need it.”
   Mr. Cohen supported Mr. Roskos’ proposal — which must be decided upon by Township Council — to allow residents to offer comments or offer new information, but not to quiz Mr. Krawczun after his report. It would be an appropriate place on the agenda for residents to seek clarification, he said.
   Township resident Jim Cleak said that while holding public participation at the beginning of the meeting means people do not have to stay for the entire session, the school board offers three opportunities for the public to speak at its meetings — at the beginning, in the middle and at the end.
   ”I’m not saying you have to go that far,” Mr. Cleak said, adding that he would opt for one more chance to comment after Mr. Krawczun’s report. He added that there could be rules for the length of time that one could speak — a point that Mr. Roskos said was supported by court cases.
   Mayor Kownacki replied that if something isn’t broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed. But at the same time, he will take into consideration Mr. Roskos’ suggestion and the audience members’ comments. He said the issue likely would be discussed at the council’s next meeting.