Washington County Commissioners Adjust Meeting Rules, Remove Mention of Citizen Comment Outside Public Hearings

Washington County residents will encounter revised rules for public meetings, according to a document recently posted on the Washington County Government website. The updated guidelines, which took effect with the adoption of the newer version of the Meeting Conduct and Meeting Sequence Rules on an unspecified date, include a change in the start time for regular meetings and a more structured approach to citizen participation, with a particular emphasis on public hearings and remove mention of general citizen comment.

Under the revised rules, regular meetings of the Board of County Commissioners will now commence at 9:00 a.m., a shift from the previous 8:00 a.m. start. This adjustment affects the daily schedule for those who regularly attend or wish to participate in these proceedings. The new rules also streamline the process for public input by specifically detailing sign-up requirements for participation during Public Hearings. Individuals seeking to speak during these sessions must register their name and address by the meeting’s start.

Significant changes have been made regarding unscheduled speakers and the discretionary power of the presiding officer. Previously, the presiding officer had the ability to allow individuals who had not signed up to speak if time permitted. This provision has been removed in the updated rules. Furthermore, the explicit mention of the presiding officer’s discretion to extend citizen participation time has been omitted. The new guidelines also remove a previous guarantee that a speaker beginning their remarks just before the end of a session would receive their full three minutes.

In terms of visual aids and displays, the updated rules introduce a specific limit, permitting only one sign or display per person. The previous version did not stipulate a numerical limit for such items. These displays must not exceed 12″ x 24″ and should not disrupt the orderly conduct of the meeting. The County will not assume responsibility for any damaged, lost, or stolen personal items, including signs and displays. Personal items must be kept with attendees at all times.

The core principles of meeting decorum and order remain consistent, although general citizen comment is now no longer included. Each speaker is still allocated a strict three-minute time limit, and the pooling or donation of time to allow one individual to exceed this limit is prohibited. The authority of the presiding officer, or a majority of the Board, to direct security to remove individuals who disrupt order or decorum is also retained. Prohibited conduct, such as personal attacks, abusive language, obscenity, and unauthorized remarks or loud noises from the audience, continues to be forbidden under the updated regulations. Per the document, these rules are intended to ensure the orderly conduct of all regular meetings, special sessions, work sessions, and public hearings.

The change in rules comes after several residents have been removed from County meetings for having more than one sign, including a recent incident with Shaun Porter.

The new rules, as well as the original version, are available on DocumentCloud below.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland.

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