The purpose of this policy is to ensure that citizens of the Borough of Gratz have a dedicated opportunity to address the Borough Council on matters of concern, while maintaining the orderly and efficient conduct of official public business.
A dedicated portion of the agenda, titled “Citizens to be Heard,” shall be set aside at the beginning of each Borough Council regular meeting.
Rules for Addressing Council
- Sign-In Requirement: Any citizen wishing to address the Council during the Public Comment section must sign the provided sign-in sheet prior to the start of the meeting. The sheet shall request the speaker’s name, address, and the topic of their comment.
- Decorum: All comments must be addressed to the Council as a body and not to any individual Council Member or audience member. Speakers shall maintain civility and refrain from personal attacks, vulgar language, or disruptive behavior.
- Time Limit: Each individual speaker is allotted a maximum of ten (10) minutes to present their comments or concerns. This time limit will be strictly enforced by the Borough Council President or presiding officer.
- Limitation on Council Action: The Council may listen to the comments, ask clarifying questions, or refer the matter to appropriate Borough staff or committees for review. However, due to legal requirements for public notice and preparation, the Council shall generally take no immediate action on matters raised during the Public Comment section unless the matter is already listed elsewhere on the agenda.
Requesting Placement on the Agenda
Citizens who require more than the allotted ten (10) minutes to present an issue, or whose issue necessitates a formal Council discussion, debate, or official action, must follow the procedure for placement on the meeting agenda.
- Contact the Borough Secretary: The citizen must formally contact the Borough Secretary to request that their issue be placed on a future meeting agenda.
- Submission Deadline: The request and any accompanying written materials must be submitted to the Borough Secretary no later than seven (7) calendar days before the scheduled Council meeting date.
- Secretary Review: The Borough Secretary, in consultation with the Borough Council President, shall review the request and determine the appropriate meeting date for the item to be placed on the agenda.
- Time Allocation: Issues placed on the official agenda will generally be allotted sufficient time for comprehensive presentation and Council discussion, as determined by the Council President.
