§ 3-2-21.18. Public participation.

Public participation at meetings of the Henry County Board of Commissioners shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(1)

Public comments.

a.

Unless otherwise approved by majority vote of the board of commissioners, at each regularly scheduled meeting of the board of commissioners of Henry County, Georgia (which meetings are presently conducted on the first and third Tuesday of each month), a time for public comment (the "public comment portion") shall be made available. No public comment portion shall be included at any emergency or special called meeting of the board of commissioners, unless approved by majority vote of the board;

b.

Each member of the public wishing to address the board shall have a total of five (5) minutes during which he/she may address the board. Such time shall not be extended unless approved by a majority of the board of commissioners. The five-minute time limit shall not be extended by any dialog with or comments by members of the board of commissioners. No member of the public may address the board during the public comment portion more than once during any meeting;

c.

Prior to the commencement of each meeting during which there will be a public comment portion, members of the public wishing to speak shall sign in with the county clerk and shall provide their name and the topic upon which they wish to speak for introduction by the chair;

d.

Public comments on matters pending on the board's agenda may be permitted at such time as the matter is called for consideration;

e.

No member of the public shall be placed on the agenda for purposes of public comment except in accordance with the provisions of this section unless approved by majority vote of the board of commissioners;

f.

No member of the public shall be permitted to make personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks to any member of the board, staff or general public. Any person who makes such remarks, or who utters loud, threatening, personal or abusive language, or engages in any other disorderly conduct which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any board meeting shall, at the discretion of the chair or a majority of the council, be barred from further audience before the board during that meeting;

g.

Public participation on agenda items. By majority vote, the board of commissioners may permit public comment on any item appearing on the agenda. In such event, such public comment regarding such matter shall be heard after such agenda item is called. Such public comment on an agenda item shall be limited to five (5) minutes per speaker with a total of fifteen (15) minutes on any agenda items;

h.

Public hearings. The board, by majority vote, may schedule public hearings for the purpose of soliciting public comment on any matter under consideration by the board. In such event, unless extended by majority vote of the board, public comments will be limited to a total of twenty (20) minutes, with ten (10) minutes allocated to those in favor of any particular matter and ten (10) minutes allocated to those in opposition to any particular matter;

i.

Video displays prohibited. No video displays or multimedia presentations shall be permitted during the public comment portion of any meeting; however, members of the public addressing the board may present documents and photographs to be displayed to or shared with the board;

j.

Nothing contained in this section shall serve to alter or amend the procedures for public hearings set forth in state law for zoning hearings or other matters required, by state or federal law, to be accompanied by a public hearing.

(Ord. No. 03-06, § 19, 10-21-03; Ord. No. 17-01, § 1, 1-3-17 )