Washington County Commissioners Do Not Vote on Resolution to Ban Profanity at Meetings

This article was updated on 10/8/2024 to reflect the commissioners decision not to vote on the resolution as well as comments during the meeting.

HAGERSTOWN, MD News (10/8/2024) – The Washington County Board of County Commissioners reconsidered and did not vote on their proposed resolution to establish a formal “Code of Civility” during their open session on October 8, 2024. The proposed resolution, presented by Assistant County Attorney Aaron Weiss, sought to introduce clear guidelines for conduct during open meetings and public hearings. According to the agenda, this initiative was designed to ensure that meetings remain orderly and respectful, allowing for the effective administration of county business. Instead, Commissioners will enforce the rules that are already in existence, and possibly revisit at a later date.

Background and Purpose

According to the agenda, the resolution emphasizes the importance of public accessibility to county meetings while also highlighting the need for decorum among all participants, including county employees, volunteers, agents, and the public. The Board’s intent, as stated in the document, is to foster an environment of civility to prevent disruptions that may impede the orderly conduct of meetings.

One of the main concerns expressed during the public hearing is that recent vulgarity has resulted in the removal of meeting videos from Antietam Cable, as Antietam will not air the meetings with vulgarity.

While the agenda did not specifically call out any specific incidents, Washington County Commissioner meetings have recently seen multiple profane personal attacks by YouTube personality Shaun Porter.

“This is unconstitutional, and I will be the first one prosecuted for it,” said Porter in a statement to Radio Free Hub City. Porter will be flying back early from New Mexico just to attend tomorrow’s meeting, and is already preparing civil litigation should the resolution pass. “I just filed a civil rights lawsuit last week against Frederick Community College’s security director for infringing on free speech for my ‘Fuck the Draft’ sign,” Porter remarked.

Key Provisions of the Code of Civility

The resolution includes several key rules that participants in public hearings or open meetings will be expected to follow. Notable provisions include:

• Time Limits: Each participant will be allowed up to three minutes to make their comments, regardless of how many issues they wish to address.
• Behavioral Expectations: Citizens must speak politely and calmly, avoiding slanderous, profane, or threatening language. Personal attacks on individuals are prohibited unless the topic directly relates to someone’s qualifications or conduct.
• Restrictions on Visual Aids: The use of props, signs, or objects to communicate messages that violate the code is also forbidden.

Enforcement Mechanisms

Enforcement of the Code of Civility would follow a two-step process. First, the presiding officer of the meeting will issue a warning to any individual found in violation of the rules. If the individual continues to disrupt the proceedings, they will be asked to leave the meeting. In cases of non-compliance, law enforcement may be called to remove the individual.

Resolution Details

The proposed resolution has been presented as a measure to balance public participation with the need for an orderly process. The Board of County Commissioners, in signing the resolution, would have formally adopt the Code of Civility as part of its governance procedures. However, the Commissioners decided not to vote on the resolution, and left the public hearing open for two weeks for public comment.

Impact on Public Participation

While this new code would have aimed to encourage civil discourse and productive dialogue, it also places clear boundaries on the behavior of participants. The Board’s goal was to ensure that meetings remain accessible and inclusive, while preventing disturbances that could derail the decision-making process.

It is important to note however, that the city of Surprise, Arizona has recently been named as party in a lawsuit for implementing similar restrictions and arresting a resident during a council meeting.

The County Commissioners did not vote on the resolution during the Board’s open session on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, but may revisit the topic in the future.

Story by multiple RFHC contributors