By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Months of prodding by several township residents for more opportunities to comment at Township Council meetings has yielded results, as the council introduced an ordinance that creates a second “public participation” item on the agenda Tuesday.
A public hearing and final action on the ordinance has been set for Township Council’s Jan. 22 meeting. If approved, the ordinance would take effect Feb. 11. This means the second “public participation” segment would become part of the agenda for the council’s Feb. 19 meeting.
The Township Council agenda allows for “public participation” early in the twice-monthly meetings, and again when a public hearing has been set for a bid award or on an ordinance that is up for final action. Comments are made prior to the council’s vote.
During public participation, residents may ask questions of Township Council or comment on issues of concern to them. They may offer advice to Township Council, or suggest that the council revisit its position on an issue.
The ordinance that was introduced Tuesday allows for the first “public participation” segment to be held early in the meeting right after the pledge of allegiance, roll call and special proclamations, recognition and presentations.
The second chance for public participation has been placed at the end of the meeting after the rest of council’s business, such as action on ordinances and bid awards, and reports by the municipal attorney and municipal manager.
Although there is no time limit on speakers during the first public participation section at the beginning of the meeting, the ordinance limits speakers to three minutes during the second opportunity to comment.
Township resident Amy Davis first called on Township Council at its July 17 meeting to allow for a second public participation section that would follow the municipal manger’s report. She repeated her request at the council’s Aug. 21 meeting and at subsequent meetings, also pointing out that the school board allows for three opportunities for public comment.
At the end of the council’s Dec. 18 meeting, there was consensus that a second public participation section should be added to the agenda with a suggested three-minute time limit for speakers. Councilman Michael Powers raised the issue at the council’s last meeting of the year.
The result was the ordinance that was introduced this week. It initially left the first public participation segment early in the meeting, immediately followed by executive session closed door meetings held by the council to discuss lawsuits, personnel matters and property acquisition. Executive session has always been held after the council adjourns its meeting.
The second chance for public participation would have occurred toward the end of the meeting after executive session and the remainder of Township Council’s business, such as action on ordinances and bid awards, old business, new business and the reports of the municipal manager, municipal attorney and municipal clerk.
Ms. Davis objected, and told Township Council that holding executive session at the beginning of the meeting even though it would follow the first public participation segment would likely discourage residents from staying for the rest of the meeting, because the length of the executive session is unpredictable.
Ms. Davis said the residents had asked for the second public participation segment to be held after the municipal manager’s report, and before the council went into its closed-door executive session meeting. There was never any request to move the executive session portion of the meeting, she said.
”It just seems unfair to make a bunch of people wait in the hall (while the council meets in closed session). I can find stuff to do,” Ms. Davis said, but other audience members have families and may not want to wait for the second opportunity to speak.
Mayor Jim Kownacki agreed to reconsider the placement of executive session on the agenda, and a motion was made and approved to restore the closed-door sessions to the end of the meeting.

