CCTA AT THE NEW BERN ALDERMAN MEETING

SUN JOURNAL NEW BERN
by Eddie Fitzgerald    (Lynn's comments in blue!)
November 9, 2011
In a split decision Tuesday night, New Bern aldermen approved a resolution limiting time for citizens to express their concerns to the board.

Mayor Lee Bettis and aldermen Bernard White and Dana Outlaw voted against the proposed four-minute time limitation that will be imposed during the public-comment period of the first regular board meeting each month. (YEAH and THANKS!)

The resolution passed 4-3. Alderman Victor Taylor made a motion to adopt the resolution; it was seconded by Alderman Dennis Bucher.

Alderman Sabrina Bengel said it was important for her as a citizen and alderman that people have the right to speak on issues, but there needed to be more order during the public meetings.

“You have the right to call any of us and I encourage you to do it,” Bengel said.

When groups speak during the public-comment periods, it delays the meetings if everyone is saying the same thing. One person needs to be appointed to speak for the group, Bengel said.
(Freedom of Speech squashed again!)
Bengel said she supported the resolution.

White didn’t. He said when he ran for aldermen he told people sitting in the audience they were sitting in a living room and he wanted them to feel comfortable and be able to express themselves.

“Our job is to listen to the people,” White said.  (CHEERS FOR YOU ALDERMAN WHITE!)

Bucher said although he “totally agreed with this free-speech concept,” he also agreed with Bengel and welcomed emails and telephones comments from citizens.  (YES, BUT YOU DID NOT DEFEND IT!)

If people could not express their concerns in four minutes, Bucher said they could return and speak at the next meeting. (LIKE, AFTER THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SETTLED?)

Alderman Johnnie Kinsey said he supported the four-minute rule.  “We are trying to conduct a meeting as well as serve the people,” he said.




  TSK, TSK, Aldermen Bucher, Kinsey and Taylor!  Shame, shame Alderwoman Bengel!
Don't you believe in the First Amendment?

Bettis said he really didn’t know how to respond. Constitutionally, it was “a really important” issue, he said.  “But how do you balance that,” Bettis said. (YOU FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION, PERIOD!)

At least one citizen has taken advantage of the public-comment period and had to be escorted from the podium several times, he said, later adding he didn’t know what to do when a person “doesn’t respect the city’s living room.”

Hal James, a member of the Coastal Carolina Taxpayers Association, said the First Amendment of the Constitution not only gives people freedom of speech but also the right to address government.

James said although he did not have a problem with the four-minute rule he was concerned that the resolution also says the Board of Aldermen has the right to adopt “additional, reasonable rules to govern the conduct of the public-comment period.”

“I don’t think that is right,” James said. “And I think citizens concerned with tax burdens should be allowed to talk longer than four minutes.”

Scott Davis, city attorney, said the resolution would only regulate the regular board meetings, not public meetings like budget hearings.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at efitzgerald@freedomenc.com

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http://www.newbernsj.com/news/alderman-101922-resolution-aldermen.html