Simsbury Selectmen Reaffirm Public Audience Rules

Following a period of Simsbury Board of Selectmen meetings that involved some difficulties during public audience sessions, the board has chosen to reaffirm its polices by enforcing time limitations.

During several recent meetings, Simsbury residents who have chosen to address the board at the beginning of the regular meetings have voiced concern over inconsistencies with the time limits for public audience.

The board's policy allows for five minutes per resident to address the board. If residents desire more time, the board allows additional time at the end of the meeting.

"The Board of Selectmen has probably the most liberal public audience policy of any board and commission in the town of Simsbury," First Selectman Mary Glassman said Monday night.

Glassman also said the board would not tolerate public conversations during the business portion of the meetings. Several interruptions during the July 6 meeting nearly caused the board to recess before continuing the meeting.

"That's very difficult for the Board of Selectmen to conduct their business if people interrupt," Glassman said. "We do want to hear from you, we do want to hear your comments. We allow you to say whatever you want, we just ask that you do it in five minutes."

During Monday night's public audience portion of the meeting, two speakers voiced their concerns that some of their fellow residents were abusing the privilege of addressing town officials.

"I was really greatly disturbed by numerous comments raised in public audience," Jeff Tindall said. "The public participants berated the selectmen, made uncalled-for comments, and were simply out of line."

Tindall said the public audience sessions were an opportunity for residents to address town leaders, question their decisions, and voice disapproval.

"However, you can be courteous and professional while getting your point across," Tindall said.

Alan Needham said residents who have allowed themselves to get upset during public audience fail to properly convey their message.

"When you start to make people feel uncomfortable and begin your comments in a tone that makes you wish you were somewhere else, you've absolutely lost the ability to persuade," Needham said.

In effort to change the course of public audience sessions, the board began using a visible time clock Monday night set to five minutes for each speaker.

"We want to make sure, with the clock, that everybody has the maximum amount of time that they are entitled to," Glassman said.