RESOLUTION NO. 77
AMENDING THE ALBANY COUNTY LEGISLATIVE RULES OF ORDER RELATED TO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
Introduced: 2/12/24
By McLean Lane:
WHEREAS, Albany County regularly holds public hearings and public comment in accordance with State law and the Legislative Rules of Order and, in recent years, questions have arisen regarding speakers who appear to be representing an entity when making their comments, and
WHEREAS, Information about speakers' municipality of residence and if they are representing and/or work for an entity may help guide Legislative review of public commentary, and
WHEREAS, Amendments to the Rules of Order, which govern Legislative public hearings, are necessary to require such information from public commenters and commenters at public hearings, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the Albany County Legislature, that the Legislative Rules of Order are hereby amended as follows for the below designated portion of "Rule 2 - Regular Meetings":
"PUBLIC FORUM -- From 6:30 p.m. until its conclusion, and in no event shall the Public Forum continue past 7:30 p.m., except that the Chairperson, in his/her discretion, may extend the time for the Public Forum, on the night of each monthly meeting, annual meeting and adjournment thereof, members of the public shall have the right to address the members of the Legislature on matters pertaining to the County of Albany. Each member of the public who desires to address the Legislature shall personally give their name, municipality of residence, whether they represent or speak on behalf of an entity, and the topic on which they wish to speak to the Clerk of the Legislature from 6:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on such evening. [The members of the public should state the topic on which they wish to speak.] The Clerk shall maintain such list as a public record from month-to-month in a continuous fashion. The Chairperson of t...
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