Florence city councilman on new public comment policy: “Along with this, council members have to pick up their packets ahead of time and do their homework.”

Florence city council announced Monday that people who want to comment at future public meetings must first fill out a form detailing their request.
“I’m not having any more council meetings that are out of control,” mayor Bob Gayle said. “There is no provision in Kansas state law for city councils to hear anything from the public. The public’s right is to come and see, and hear what’s happening, and witness what’s happening.”
The decision is legal under Kansas open meeting laws as long as there is no discrimination accorded by topic, said Max Kautsch via phone, an attorney with Kansas Press Association. The council made the decision during a meeting April 8, but it was discussed again Monday. To be approved for comment in a city council meeting, applicants will have to summarize their statements and include copies of any supporting documents, and must do so by the Wednesday prior to the meeting. If the new system is to work well, council members will have to make sure they pick up their own paperwork before a meeting, councilman Ken Hoffman said. “Along with this, council members have to pick up their packets ahead of time and do their homework,” he said.
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(Read more: PEABODY Gazette-Bulletin)