MILTON, Ga. — At the Jan. 16 Milton City Council special-called meeting, City Attorney Ken Jarrard proposed changes to procedures and public comment during regular meetings.
While most of the discussion focused on preventing violations of the Open Meetings Act and reviewing ethics, Jarrard also presented recommendations on streamlining meetings.
After a resident reached out to Appen Media with concerns about decreasing public comment opportunities, Jarrard was asked about the implications of the proposed changes.
“The recommendations on meeting efficiency originate with me,” Jarrard wrote. “The intention of the recommendations…is to make Council meetings operate optimally for everyone.”
As it stands, Milton has opportunities for residents to speak during public comment at the beginning of the meeting and during public hearings, zoning agenda sections and most other agenda items.
Jarrard said his intention is to consolidate the multiple opportunities for public input into two all-purpose comment sections.
He proposes one at the beginning of the meeting for 30 minutes, with 3 minutes for each speaker. The second section would be between unfinished business and new business for another 30 minutes, with 3 minutes for each speaker.
“This consolidation should lessen confusion regarding whether the city is conducting a public hearing, a zoning hearing, or simply allowing public comment,” Jarrard said.” Many times, those different sort of citizen-engagement opportunities can be hard to distinguish.”
His proposal matches the public comment opportunities provided by local governments in Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Dunwoody.
Other proposed changes include holding a work session once a month before regular meetings, moving staff reports to the end of the agenda and halting the practice of reading every word of the consent…
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