At the December 12, 2023 Public Comments Session, Mayor Baldwin used her “discretion” to limit the time allotted to each speaker from the 3 minutes guaranteed in city policy to only 1 minute. She did this because there were 108 speakers signed up to speak. Speakers had prepared their remarks knowing they had 3 minutes to speak. Or, so they thought. Less than 6 hours notice was given for the change.
At the start of the meeting, Councilor Jones made a motion to restore the time to the 3 minute guarantee. When the vote was taken, the result was 4-4 and the motion failed.
Jones then made a second motion to set the speaking time to 2 minutes. Once again it failed by a 4-4 vote.
Those voting for both of these motions were Councilors Jones, Black, Harrison and Patton.
Those voting against both were Mayor Baldwin, Mayor Pro Tem Melton, and Councilors Forte and Branch.
For background information you need to know that at their March 21, 2023 meeting, Raleigh’s City Council adopted a new policy guaranteeing three minutes of speaking time for each speaker at the Public Comments Session. It is documented on the city’s website.
You can see the guarantee for three minutes of speaking time below or at this link: Update on Public Comment Period
Note in the details that the new policy sets up a meeting that is specifically for Public Comments and NOTHING ELSE. There are no other agenda items. The number of speakers and the amount of time devoted to them does not affect any other business. It only affects the time of the councilors.
But, Mayor Baldwin, Mayor Pro Tem Melton, and Councilors Forte and Branch all decided their personal time was more important than honoring their guarantee of allowing each speaker 3 minutes to express their views.
It’s possible that Melton, Forte and Branch made a calculated decision that angering Mayor Baldwin would cost them more than angering the people.
In political terms, they voted FOR the guaranteed 3 minutes of speaking time before they “flip flopped” and voted AGAINST it.
ALL voters should remember this betrayal when next year’s election comes around. All four of the councilors who voted to restrict the time of the speakers have made it known they plan to run for re-election. Baldwin and Branch have both said they plan to run for mayor. Melton has indicated he would like to run for mayor as well.
What the four of them all said at this meeting is that voters CANNOT TRUST THEM to honor the commitments they make to the people of Raleigh.
The problem is caused by the council implementing the new Public Comment policy guaranteeing 3 minutes of speaking time without updating the Rules of Decorum to align with the new policy.
Ironically, the Rules of Decorum give the mayor or presiding officer the option to change the speaking time at her discretion in direct conflict with the speaking time guarantee. And, this is NOT the first time she has done this.
The City Council needs to update the Rules of Decorum to eliminate the discretionary power.
You can see the Rules below or at this link: Rules of Decorum
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