Administration

Committee receives recommendations to update public comment period

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Board of Trustees Committee on Outreach, Development and Community relations today (July 20) considered recommendations by a subcommittee focused on changes to the board’s public comment session. 

 

The subcommittee is examining how individuals address the Board of Trustees and possible updates to the process. 

Currently, individuals who wish to address the board during the public comment period must file a request-to-address form in advance and provide the topic on which they plan to speak. Individuals addressing the board are permitted up to three minutes for a presentation. 

The public comment period begins at 8 a.m. on the Friday of the board meeting, and is audio recorded. The recording is made available later on the trustees’ website. 

The subcommittee’s recommendations include: 

  • Shifting the public comment period from its 8 a.m. time slot preceding the board’s executive session to after the conclusion of executive session; 

  • Video recording public comments, which will then be posted and archived on the board’s website if they comply with board rules or policies; and 

  • Revising the board’s standing orders to remove the list of prohibited topics. 

There was support for the recommendations and the Committee on Outreach, Development and Community relations will take into consideration feedback gathered during this session. Because a quorum was not present, the committee will take up the changes at its next meeting in September. If the recommendations are approved, they will be sent to the Committee on Governance and Long-Range Planning for further consideration. 

 

 

Last Updated July 20, 2017