Washington County Implements New Public Hearing Registration Process

Washington County Government has announced a new procedure for individuals wishing to provide in-person testimony or comment at public hearings before the Board of County Commissioners. This change, effective immediately, requires attendees to register in advance, aligning the county’s process with those used by entities such as the Maryland General Assembly and other governmental bodies. The new system extends the opportunity to sign up for public comment from a limited window on the day of the hearing to a more extended period of two weeks.

To participate in person, residents must now complete a speaker registration form, which is accessible online through the Washington County Government website. The deadline for submitting these completed forms is 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the Monday preceding the scheduled public hearing. Accurate and timely submission of the registration form is crucial, as failure to pre-register or provide complete and correct information may preclude an individual from speaking at the hearing. For those who prefer to submit their feedback in writing, options to email or mail comments remain available, as detailed in individual public hearing notices. Written submissions are expected to be received before the commencement of the public hearing, though this is subject to the Board’s discretion.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Government

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