CHATHAM – Chatham selectmen have adopted a policy that encourages public comment at town committees when possible.
The statement acknowledges that public participation should be allowed in meetings when time permits, even during sessions when it is not allowed.
“Always, there should be time at the very end of the meeting for people who have taken the time to come to the meeting, to speak, and I have yet to understand why that doesn’t make good sense,” said Chatham resident Norman Pacun, who drafted the policy document.
Selectmen said that the new policy would not replace the state’s Open Meeting Law, but would require that the committee chairman hear a range of viewpoints.
Some on the board were concerned about the policy, stating that it could be abused by others.
“There are specific words and sentences which make it crystal clear that nothing in this document removes from the chairman the right to prevent disruption, the right to run the meeting,” said Pacun.
The policy was eventually adopted by selectmen as selectmen chair Jeffrey Dykens dissented and selectman Dean Nicastro abstained.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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