Bethlehem Township Comm'rs Ponder Public Comment Policy

Bill Berry is a former Commissioner

Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act,contains some very sweeping language. It finds that "the right of the public to be present at all meetings of agencies and to witness the deliberation, policy formulation and decision making of agencies is vital to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process and that secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society." It invests both residents and taxpayers with the right to "comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation" before any matter is decided. It gives any person, citizen or not, the right to object to a perceived violation of the open meeting law. Yet at their April 6 meeting, Commissioners considered adopting  policy that would essentially limit comments to the beginning of meetings and during public hearings. There would also be a five-minute time limit on speakers.

This is the second attempt Commissioners have made to limit public comment. In September, a similar proposal, spearheaded by Marty Zaworski, was tabled.

Zawarski stated that Commissioners are accessible, by email or phone at nearly all hours. He complained about people who are "redundant" and who come to the podium and read for ten minutes, which is precisely what happened several weeks ago when PennEast Pipeline opponents asked the Board to approve an anti-pipeline resolution.

Michael Hudak stated that the Board follows "Robertson's [sic] Rules of Order", adding that "Courtesy of the Floor"is a "privilege, not a right."

Of seven public speakers at the meeting, five opposed any change that would limit the right to speak to the beginning of a meeting.

Green Pond Marsh activist John Glagola complained that the policy prevents people from addressing issues that come up during a meeting, asking whether he wold need a ouija board to divine  what is going to happen. He was joined by Melissa Davis, who stated public comment has bnever been an issue. She called the proposed policy "disrespectful to the citizens."

Karen Berry took it one step further. She called the proposal undemocratic. "It is in the interest of good government to be as transparent as possible," she argued. "That is what democracy is all about."

Her husband Bill, himself a former Commissioner,noted that in his time on the Board, "We sat here sometimes 'till two in the morning and listened to what residents had to say. The more open, the better."

Tom Nolan cautioned fellow Commissioners at the limitation. "We're not just here to listen to the developers," he complained, calling the policy the start of a slippery slope. "If it's not broken, don't try to fix it," he warned.

Phil Barnard was silent, but has previously supported the public right to speak so long as people are courteous.

Pat Breslin was absent.