More on Fort Cherry public comment
By Dawn Keller
Staff writer
dkeller@observer-reporter.com
Fort Cherry School Board is still considering changes to its policy about public comments.
The board came to a consensus last week that it doesn’t want to require that comments be put in writing if someone wants to speak at a public meeting.
The board is also considering how to respond to questions during the meeting. One suggestion has been to defer questions to the appropriate administrator, and another has been to answer them at a later meeting.
Mt. Pleasant Township resident Chris Lauff said the public has yet to hear a single question answered during a meeting. He said board members have said they don’t want to be blindsided by questions and accuse people of grandstanding.
Lauff questioned why that even matters since they don’t answer questions.
He said he’s not sure whether board members are unwilling or unable to answer questions.
“You should be embarrassed that you are not answering questions from the public,” he said.
He said that if questions are asked to the board, then board members, not administrators, should answer them.
District solicitor Mike Brungo said the Sunshine Law permits public comments. He said the board needs to make sure it follows the Right to Know Law and the Personnel File Inspection Law when answering questions. Before answering questions, board members need to determine if the answers fit an exception to the public records law, meaning information can’t be released, he said.
Other changes to the public meeting policy include posting the agenda on the district Web site at www.fort cherry.org 24 hours in advance. Board member James White asked for that to be changed to 72 hours in advance.
Board President Bruce Sharpnack said the board will continue to discuss the policy and get some of the questions about it resolved.
Staff writer
dkeller@observer-reporter.com
Fort Cherry School Board is still considering changes to its policy about public comments.
The board came to a consensus last week that it doesn’t want to require that comments be put in writing if someone wants to speak at a public meeting.
The board is also considering how to respond to questions during the meeting. One suggestion has been to defer questions to the appropriate administrator, and another has been to answer them at a later meeting.
Mt. Pleasant Township resident Chris Lauff said the public has yet to hear a single question answered during a meeting. He said board members have said they don’t want to be blindsided by questions and accuse people of grandstanding.
Lauff questioned why that even matters since they don’t answer questions.
He said he’s not sure whether board members are unwilling or unable to answer questions.
“You should be embarrassed that you are not answering questions from the public,” he said.
He said that if questions are asked to the board, then board members, not administrators, should answer them.
District solicitor Mike Brungo said the Sunshine Law permits public comments. He said the board needs to make sure it follows the Right to Know Law and the Personnel File Inspection Law when answering questions. Before answering questions, board members need to determine if the answers fit an exception to the public records law, meaning information can’t be released, he said.
Other changes to the public meeting policy include posting the agenda on the district Web site at www.fort cherry.org 24 hours in advance. Board member James White asked for that to be changed to 72 hours in advance.
Board President Bruce Sharpnack said the board will continue to discuss the policy and get some of the questions about it resolved.
posted by Amanda Gillooly at
5:21 PM
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