By Thomas J. Prohaska
LOCKPORT — The Common Council unanimously adopted time limits for public speakers Wednesday.
Effective at the Feb. 1 meeting, speakers addressing agenda items at the start of the meeting will be limited to three minutes, while those making general remarks at the end of the session will face a five-minute limit.
“Surprised there hasn’t been a lot of opposition to a limit in time,” said Alderman John Lombardi III, R-1st Ward.
He did say some of his constituents wanted a 10-minute limit during the second comment period, but the Council wasn’t interested.
“You can say an awful lot in five minutes,” said Council President Joseph C. Kibler, R-at large.
Corporation Counsel John J. Ottaviano said the old rules called for the total length of the comment period to be 10 minutes, but no one ever enforced that.
The call for limits stemmed from several long meetings last fall that included unusually long speeches by some speakers.
“I am one of the individuals who abused the right to speak,” Anthony Sammarco, of Lincolnshire Drive, said during Wednesday’s meeting. “I know it was far too long, and no one remembers anything that was said. . . I support the three-minute rule.”
“We don’t live in Russia, China, Cuba or one of these countries,” Shirley A. Nicholas, of Mill Street, told the Council. “If you don’t want your people to speak to you, you shouldn’t have taken the job.”
Doralyn Marshall, of Waterman Street, pointed out there is no law requiring comment periods at public meetings. She said, “It is a privilege to us, and I admit some of us may have abused it.”
Mayor Michael W. Tucker said, “Our intent certainly is not to silence the public or not hear what people have to say. That would be ridiculous.”
He said some people have left Council meetings after signing up to speak because others went on too long.
In other matters, the Council adopted a gasoline and diesel fuel contract with Noco Energy Corp., which will charge 13 cents per gallon more than the Buffalo Niagara market average as determined by the Oil Price Information Service.
The Council also passed a ruling that the construction of a proposed second city marina above the Erie Canal locks will have no significant environmental impact and will be exempted from the environmental review process.
A feasibility study by Labella Associates concluded that a state-owned site on the north side of the canal between West Genesee and Stevens streets would be the best location, but funding is nowhere in sight.
tprohaska@buffnews.com
Yep, we could see this happening, but that is not what I wanted to point out in this article. Get used to seeing in print the following statement or something very similar, "The Common Council unanimously adopted...". There will be no opposing views or 'no' votes at this year's Common Council meetings, unless they're scripted, of course. The truth is difficult to hear, and even more difficult to say, Mayor Tucker is 'king' and we allow it to be this way.
Effective at the Feb. 1 meeting, speakers addressing agenda items at the start of the meeting will be limited to three minutes, while those making general remarks at the end of the session will face a five-minute limit.
“Surprised there hasn’t been a lot of opposition to a limit in time,” said Alderman John Lombardi III, R-1st Ward.
He did say some of his constituents wanted a 10-minute limit during the second comment period, but the Council wasn’t interested.
“You can say an awful lot in five minutes,” said Council President Joseph C. Kibler, R-at large.
Corporation Counsel John J. Ottaviano said the old rules called for the total length of the comment period to be 10 minutes, but no one ever enforced that.
The call for limits stemmed from several long meetings last fall that included unusually long speeches by some speakers.
“I am one of the individuals who abused the right to speak,” Anthony Sammarco, of Lincolnshire Drive, said during Wednesday’s meeting. “I know it was far too long, and no one remembers anything that was said. . . I support the three-minute rule.”
“We don’t live in Russia, China, Cuba or one of these countries,” Shirley A. Nicholas, of Mill Street, told the Council. “If you don’t want your people to speak to you, you shouldn’t have taken the job.”
Doralyn Marshall, of Waterman Street, pointed out there is no law requiring comment periods at public meetings. She said, “It is a privilege to us, and I admit some of us may have abused it.”
Mayor Michael W. Tucker said, “Our intent certainly is not to silence the public or not hear what people have to say. That would be ridiculous.”
He said some people have left Council meetings after signing up to speak because others went on too long.
In other matters, the Council adopted a gasoline and diesel fuel contract with Noco Energy Corp., which will charge 13 cents per gallon more than the Buffalo Niagara market average as determined by the Oil Price Information Service.
The Council also passed a ruling that the construction of a proposed second city marina above the Erie Canal locks will have no significant environmental impact and will be exempted from the environmental review process.
A feasibility study by Labella Associates concluded that a state-owned site on the north side of the canal between West Genesee and Stevens streets would be the best location, but funding is nowhere in sight.
tprohaska@buffnews.com
Yep, we could see this happening, but that is not what I wanted to point out in this article. Get used to seeing in print the following statement or something very similar, "The Common Council unanimously adopted...". There will be no opposing views or 'no' votes at this year's Common Council meetings, unless they're scripted, of course. The truth is difficult to hear, and even more difficult to say, Mayor Tucker is 'king' and we allow it to be this way.
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