PERU — Voters will decide Saturday on adopting an ordinance to allow a time for public participation at every selectmen’s meeting.
The “Open to the Public” proposal was presented to the board in October by Dawna Kazregis.
The vote on the ordinance will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the former Peru Elementary School. Town Clerk Vera Parent said voters can ask for a secret ballot on the measure.
If the ordinance is adopted, selectmen will be required to hold one 20-minute public comment period at each board meeting. All comments or questions will be directed to the chairman or to a specific selectman, who will recognize each speaker in turn. Speakers must identify themselves and the group they represent, if applicable.
A speaker requesting to present a more formal or comprehensive discussion must make arrangements to be on the agenda for that evening. Those interested should contact the selectman’s secretary prior to the Thursday afternoon before the scheduled meeting. A speaker cannot be refused the right to be put on the agenda.
The ordinance was drafted after Chairman Tim Holland cut the open sessions from weekly to semi-weekly last June due to disruptive behavior. Holland said meeting have gone very well since then.
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