Public Meeting Policy
Board of Trustees Policy: 2.9
Date: May 2024
Supersedes: N/A
Purpose
The Board of Trustees recognizes the value to College governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the College community and general public in Board meetings. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for proper governance of the College and the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner.
Public Participation
The Board adopts this policy to govern public participation in Board meetings necessary to conduct its meeting and to maintain order.
In order to permit fair and orderly expression of public comment, the Board shall provide an opportunity at each open meeting of the Board for comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation before the Board prior to official action by the Board and shall be in accordance with Board policy.
The duration of the public comment period shall be no longer than thirty (30) minutes unless the time is increased by the Board Chair.
If the Board determines there is not sufficient time at a meeting for public comments, the comment period may be deferred to the next regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring before the next regular meeting.
When an item is added to the agenda after the public comment period has ended, the Board shall offer a further public comment opportunity limited to the added item(s).
Requirements
The Board requires that public participants be County residents or taxpayers, College students, parents/guardians of College students or College employees.
All individuals wishing to participate in an open Board meeting shall register their intent to speak with the Chief of Staff at the President’s Office (president@mc3.edu) no later than three hours prior to the advertised scheduled meeting and shall include the name and address of the participant and the topic to be addressed.
Participants must be recognized by the Board Chair and must preface their comments by an announcement of their name.
Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes' duration although the Board Chair may increase this allotment of time.
No participant may speak more than once on the same topic, unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
Participants are encouraged to direct all statements and questions to the Board Chair and/or the Board as a whole.
The Board Chair may:
- Interrupt or terminate a participant's statement when the statement is too lengthy, obscene, or constitutes a threat of physical violence.
- Request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum.
- Request the assistance of law enforcement officers to remove a disorderly person when their conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting.
- Call a recess or adjourn to another time when the lack of public decorum interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting.
No placards or banners will be permitted within the meeting room.
The meeting agenda and pertinent documents shall be available to the media and public at the meeting.
The Board reserves the right to amend and/or waive any or all of these procedures by majority vote of Trustees present.