Hightstown sets three-minute limit when addressing council
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — The Borough Council has approved a resolution that places a time limit on people addressing its members during public meetings.
The council June 3 established a time limit of three minutes per person during the public comment period. There are two public comment sessions — one at the beginning of a meeting and one near the close — for people to address elected officials.
”Council, I am disappointed in you,” said resident Frank Rivera, a local artist. “This town has 5,500 people in it. Approximately 10 people come to two meetings a month. We will give them three minutes each. That will be 30 minutes each and one hour a month. That’s all you will have to hear, especially those who don’t do email.”
According to Mr. Rivera, it is a “copout.”
The council passed the resolution in a 4-3 vote with Mayor Steven Kirson breaking the tie in approval. Council members Robert Thibault, Lynn Woods and Gail Doran voted against the measure.
Councilwoman Selena Bibens addressed the resolution Monday — which had been discussed at several previous council meetings.
”As of lately, the meetings have been going on ‘til 11 p.m. or 11:30 p.m., and this will just curtail it a little bit so that we can move forward after that to address the rest of our agenda and get out in a timely fashion for the rest of the year,” Ms. Bibens said.
Mr. Thibault disagreed with the time limit, despite agreeing that there have been “abominable comments and abuse of the policy” by some.
”As everyone knows, I have been a proponent of no time limit because I think the public has a right to be heard,” Mr. Thibault said. “I think that people still have — no matter how absurd and vulgar their comments might be — a First Amendment right.”
Councilwoman Doran concurred.
”I do think that many of the public comments have been out of hand,” Ms. Doran said. “I find the vulgar language unacceptable, and limiting that to three minutes doesn’t help. I would like to see the person in charge of the meeting keep closer tabs on the comments in terms of appropriateness.”
According to Ms. Doran, the public comment portion doesn’t add to the length of the meeting “rarely in total more than 45 minutes.”
”I don’t think it’s the public comments that is extending our meetings,” Ms. Doran added. “I think it’s the amount of substance on our agenda that is keeping us here.”
After just approving the three-minute limit, the council did not adhere to it during the public comment sessions as resident after resident approached the podium to address their concerns.
”I would never treat anybody the way you treat not only the public, but your employees,” resident Gene Sarafin said. “Except you, Rob, you have many things going for you.”
He added, “You cannot treat your mayor or council president or your public like we are stupid. We served on council. We served on school boards. Not much I haven’t done in my 48 years in this town, but what I witness here from you four or three is a nastiness, an evilness.”
Mr. Sarafin said they were “not qualified to be public officials.”
Ms. Woods asked for the public to remain until the end of the meeting to hear the council’s responses.
”I’m noticing that during public comment that people come up, make statements, ask questions and then you all disappear at the end when the council makes their comments. So, I know I would appreciate — if these are real concerns and these are things you have real questions about — (for you to) stick around (for our responses),” Ms. Woods said.
Mr. Rivera said in a letter last week to the editor, “The measure guarantees a three-minute limit in appropriate comment and language, but — in so doing — it punishes everyone for the abuses of a few.”

