Speakers from the Floor, Greensboro City Council

Inside Scoop had reported previously that trouble was brewing among the Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro with respect to Mayor Knight's changes to the Speakers from the Floor segment at council meetings.  Knight is moving that segment to a later part of the meeting, and apparently limiting the time spent.

Simkins functionary Goldie Wells gave her marching orders to Jim Kee to "go back to Knight and let him know the residents of District 2 didn’t like this idea".

A couple of letters to the editor appeared in the paper today criticizing the new policy.  One alleged it would limit the ability of that community to speak out on the White Street Landfill.  That is absurd.  Any proposed changes, if any, regarding the landfill at future council meetings would surely come with a public hearing.

Those that protest fail to consider one factor.  Greensboro residents get off work at different times.  Some are not able to leave their workplace before 5:30 or 6:00 PM.  Some work in nearby cities and towns, and must commute back to Greensboro-- and this makes it difficult for them to make the council meeting this early.  Many others tend to have dinner around this time.   The early time slot for the Speakers from the Floor segment does not work well for everyone, and can tend to shut some people out.

No one is alleging that the new schedule does not meet the requirements of state law, because apparently it does.  Citizens still have the prerogative to contact the mayor and council members individually before the meeting if they want to express their opinion.

It is very important that public meetings do not become unnecessarily prolonged.  The previous arrangement led to certain problems with respect to the manner in which the meetings progressed.  Bill Knight is precisely correct to see if a different policy works better.

Comments

[Brandon Burgess]

I don't see how it limits the time given to speakers from the floor. I think it enables council to give their full attention to matters being discussed by the speakers because the council will not have an entire agenda hanging over their heads.

With regard to the landfill issue: If anything like re-opening the landfill were to be discussed, it would be an agenda item. Speakers would be allowed to speak to items on the agenda when they came up. I don't see anything wrong with that.

I do see something wrong with taking an hour out of a council meeting to hear speakers from the floor rant about an agenda item that hasn't come up yet.

I think we should give it a chance.

--Brandon Burgess

[Mick]

Agreed. It's worth a shot. Not like it is written in stone. If it doesnt work (unintended consequences, etc) change it back. I dont see it as unfair at all. But anytime you change something like this you knock some people out as well as including others. Just the way it works.

Good luck Mayor Knight.

[Joe Guarino]

I agree, Brandon. Some great comments.

Mick, you are right. Regardless of what time period is used, it will work better for some people, and worse for others.

[Roch101]

At one time, speakers were given 30 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and 30 minutes at the end. That would certainly be more accommodating.

[Mick]

ding ding ding

[Ryan Shell]

I mentioned doing this some time ago and fully support having the Speakers portion at the end of the meeting.

[Brandon Burgess]

Ryan, I think it is important for us, being district 2 residents, to voice our support.

Our former council member, Ms. Goldie Wells thinks she still speaks for the district. It has been reported that she asked Jim Kee to tell the mayor that D2 doesn't support his decision.

[Brenda Bowers]

It behooves all of us to step up and support Mayor Knight as he tries to make some changes that have been long overdue. hew is of course getting push back from those who have ruled Greensboro for so long. BB

[Brandon Burgess]

It is interesting that so many of the former Mayor's supporters are so quick to dismiss every position this mayor takes; going directly against exactly everything that was good about Mayor Johnson: her openmindedness and willingness to hear out many different points of view, willingness to try new things.

--Brandon Burgess

[Ryan Shell]

Brandon, simply put, District 2 is more than what some consider to be "northeast Greensboro."

[Joe Guarino]

Thanks for the comments.

I agree with you, Brenda. We need to support Mayor Knight on this one. There are going to be enough big issues on which people are going to disagree. We can't sweat the small stuff as long as the law is being followed.

Just an aside. Recently there was a debate about a candidate running for office in Rockingham County who would not be able to attend daytime governmental meetings because he worked for a living. The argument was made the meeting ought to be scheduled when working people could attend. The same principle holds true here.

[Vivi]

I like the changes being made and I believe the arrangement is more accommodating. It's funny that the concerned citizens of NE Greensboro think they alone ARE district 2. Goldie was a poor representative of the district during her reign and her time has come and gone. I also agree that until there is an issue concerning the landfill, the matter should be left alone.

[buzzman]

Many of those who say they won't like speaking at the end of the meeting are most likely doing so just because they wish to oppose whatever Bill Knight does. They're sore losers and probably would not have given it a second thought if it had been enacted by Yvonne Johnson.
I think it's an excellent idea. Although some speakers from the floor are quite interesting, it really annoys me to have some of them ramble on and on about nothing.

[Mick]

A lot in this post sounds familiar.

[Roch101]

So, some people find the new arrangement more convenient for them, some find it more inconvenient. Both have legitimate reasons for their opinions -- working too late to make the early time, reliance on public transportation making the later time harder.

Can both be accommodated or are we more interest in turning this simple thing into an opportunity to poke some people in the eye? Knowing the small-mindedness that pervades Greensboro, I won't be surprised to hear people argue for the latter.

[Joe Guarino]

Roch, I think we need to remember that there is no entitlement to have this particular segment at one time or another. I think the objectives with this change were to deal with agenda items earlier (the main business of the council), and to achieve a time limit spent on speakers from the floor.

Thanks, Vivi and Buzzman.

[Ryan Shell]

And hey, think of it like this. If there is a particular item that is drawing a large number of speakers (from the floor or supporters of those speakers), the Chamber will probably be a bit more empty (b/c those there for business will have left) at the end of the meeting and allow added room for people to sit.