The Greensboro City Council will hold the monthly virtual meeting devoted to hearing from the public on Monday Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
The virtual meeting is being held Monday instead of Tuesday, the regular meeting day because there happens to be an election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and the polls will be open until 7:30 p.m.
The first meeting of the month is in theory primarily devoted to a “public comment period.” People are supposed to be invited to speak to the City Council and the City Council’s television audience on any topic they choose.
In fact, it is possible to speak virtually to the City Council, just like when the City Council holds a public hearing.
But the City Council evidently does not want the public to know that they can actually speak during the virtual meeting, because once again there is no notice on the City Council agenda on how a person signs on to the virtual meeting to speak.
The announcement about the public comment period states, “Public comments may be submitted online via https://form.jotform.com/202643500426041 by 5 p.m. the day prior to the meeting. Any requests received past 5 p.m. will be processed for the next appropriate Council meeting.
“Comments will be summarized during the meeting and will posted at www.greensboro-nc.gov the day following the meeting. The City of Greensboro understands the level of concern and passion during this unprecedented time; however, all submittals must be free of inappropriate language and submitted in a respectful manner.
“Note: All public comments received are subject to the public records law and will be made available to the media. These communications are not confidential.”
That is the complete announcement and there isn’t a word in there about how a person goes about speaking during the virtual meeting.
However, some people discovered in October that if they requested permission to speak at the meeting, they would be allowed to do so and several people spoke.
Those were the first speakers at a public forum since the City Council started meeting virtually in April.
So if you would like to speak contact the City Clerk and it is evidently possible.
The idea that posting a comment on the City of Greensboro website the day after the meeting is the equivalent of speaking at the meeting is a little farfetched, which raises another question. If emailed comments have to be received the day before the meeting why are they posted the day after the meeting?
More bungling of basic open meeting laws. Our Mayor and Council are no friend to being accountable or to the freedoms and rights the citizens have fought for. Taking away voices is despicable and definitely unconstitutional. They do however love giving their lawyerand staff instructions on how to skirt and stretch beyond legality on a regular basis.
While i agree with Mr. Hammer that the city council has purposely not posted any information that citizens could speak live via Zoom during the public comment periods since the council began virtual meetings in spring, i wonder if you RT posters will avail yourself of this new-found avenue to address city council or will you continue to whine about the violation of your constitutional rights. i spoke live via Zoom at the October 6th city council meeting. Unfortunately Mr. Hammer insisted in this November article that “people have not been allowed to sign up to speak at the public forums.” If Mr. Hammer had investigated the city council policy as i did in October, he would have known that public comments in November were in fact available, live via Zoom. Of course this does not address the problem that citizens without internet access are barred from participation but that doesn’t appear to be Mr. Hammer’s concern.
receive another virtual digit.
John will endorse Nancy vaughan regardless. Cooper will need her for cash at some point.
Typical democrats, avoid transparency to hide poor policy decisions. I’ve lived in this town since 1967 and am amazed that there are that many dimwitted citizens to vote for those clowns.
Just wait until Tuesday…..