Chester BankstonThe Hamilton County Commission may decide next week to hear from the public over resolutions before commissioners actually vote.
Under a proposed resolution, commissioners are considering adding a step to its meeting process that would allow residents to address the commission prior to voting time. Currently, residents only get to talk to the commission publicly at meetings after the body votes.
Chester Bankston, who leads the commission's rules committee, said he thinks that's a pretty good idea.
"I think this is a good resolution. I think people need to be able to speak," Bankston said.
Each side of an issue would get 10 minutes to speak, under the rules. Individual residents for or against an issue would each get three minutes to address the commission prior to the vote. Or a group of three or more would get a combined 10 minutes.
Commissioners would vote on the rule next week. Changing commission rules requires two-thirds -- or six votes -- on the nine-person commission.