Public will speak at commission, despite Democratic opposition

Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley speaks  at Westview Elementary in this Feb. 23, 2015, file photo.
Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley speaks at Westview Elementary in this Feb. 23, 2015, file photo.
photo Hamilton County Commissioner Sabrena Smedley speaks at Westview Elementary in this Feb. 23, 2015, file photo.

District Name/Vote

1. Randy Fairbanks: Yes 2. Jim Fields: Yes 3. Marty Haynes: Yes 4. Warren Mackey: No 5. Greg Beck: No 6. Joe Graham: Yes 7. Sabrena Smedley: Yes 8. Tim Boyd: Yes 9. Chester Bankston: Yes

The Hamilton County Commission's two Democrats say their colleagues will rue the day they voted to allow residents to speak publicly to them before commissioners vote at meetings.

Commissioners on Wednesday passed a resolution changing their 37-year-old meeting rules to allow residents to speak for or against agenda items before the commission votes.

Before Wednesday, public comments were reserved for the end of meetings, after the commissioners had made their decisions.

Now, individuals will have three minutes each to address the commission before votes, or 10 minutes for a delegation. The pro and con sides each will get 10 minutes to speak, for a combined 20 minutes tops.

During discussion Wednesday, Commissioner Greg Beck said the move would provide residents an opportunity to "badger" commissioners and "grandstand" at meetings.

"I'm telling you, in 11 years down here, I've been badgered a lot from right over there," Beck said pointing at the floor podium. "I don't know if any commissioners up here who just came on really know what they are asking for at this point, because it opens the door for a lot of grandstanding. There are people around who like to grandstand."

Beck said residents may publicly address the commission at agenda sessions and in the week between agenda sessions and voting meetings.

"People have an opportunity to speak and send emails, and phone calls to the office and pigeon flights ... any way they want to speak to the commission," Beck said.

In fact, the opportunity to publicly address the commission at agenda sessions is virtually nonexistent because the public has no way of knowing what commissioners will discuss. Agendas aren't made public until the meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

Commissioner Warren Mackey said the U.S. Congress, the state Legislature and even the county school board don't let the public speak during deliberation, so why should the commission?

"We all do our homework, which entails listening to our constituents before meetings," Mackey said after the meeting. He said he opposed the resolution in the name of efficiency.

"The people get up here to speak, and they repeat themselves. We are listening, but I also think in the process of listening we ought to use our good judgment moving forward," Mackey said.

In the 20 minutes the commission debated the matter, Beck and Mackey expressed concern that letting the public speak could make meetings last longer.

But Commissioner Sabrena Smedley said if the meetings are long, so be it.

"I make a recommendation to the commission that we start eating our Wheaties and packing a lunch, and get ready for some long meetings. But I think to not give the taxpayers an opportunity to speak on issues they are passionate about would be a bad mistake," Smedley said.

The resolution passed after two failed attempts by Beck and Mackey to table or postpone the measure, and one amendment effort by Commissioner Marty Haynes to shorten the discussion time limit from 10 minutes per side to six minutes.

The vote passed 7-2, with only Beck and Mackey in opposition.

The commission already had had a taste of public comment that morning, from people upset over a controversial zoning change in Hixson.

As people left the room muttering after the vote that would allow a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Grocery in their neighborhood, Mackey stood and put a piece of paper in front of his face.

Not into the microphone but audibly, he said, "Chairman, if we pass that resolution about letting them speak, you see what's going to happen?"

Mackey made two other calls to commissioners during the meeting, both times with paper covering his mouth.

In January, Beck made headlines when he said "the Sunshine Law stinks," in a public meeting.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com, @glbrogdoniv on Twitter or at 423-757-6481.

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