MILTON, Ga. — While Milton officials consider new rules for public comment during City Council meetings, some residents are already a little frustrated.
Several residents at the Feb. 12 Milton City Council work session left disappointed after not being allowed to speak.
Some came to speak about proposed recommendations from City Attorney Ken Jarrard on streamlining meeting efficiency.
Others showed up to give their thoughts on the search for active park space, including the city-owned property on Hopewell Road. Some said they’d wanted to weigh in on the alcohol beverage license for a farm winery in the Boxwood Estates subdivision.
City Attorney Jarrard, speaking at a Jan. 17 special-called City Council meeting, recommended limiting public comment to two opportunities during formal sessions, one before the consent agenda and one before new business. Each public comment, he suggested, would be a maximum of 30 minutes, with three minutes provided to each speaker.
Other proposed changes include holding a work session once a month an hour before regular meetings, discontinuing the practice of reading emails into the record and encouraging residents to attend meetings in person.
In a Jan. 24 email, Jarrard said the City Council planned to discuss the changes at the Feb. 12 work session.
Because the published agenda at the Feb. 12 work session did not include any items related to meeting efficiency, park space or the winery, residents were not allowed to speak on those issues.
City Code allows general public comment only at regular meetings. However, the code allows for public comment addressing agenda items during work sessions.
Three former City Council members, including Laura Bentley, attended the meeting but were unable to comment.
“It’s definitely something that they are considering,” Bentley said. “To just pull it…
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