Galesburg City Hall.
Galesburg City Council on Monday approved several changes to how city meetings are run including limiting public comments to 3 minutes per speaker.
There were some last-minute changes though including doing away with an overall time limit of 60 minutes per regular meeting.
The motion to remove a 60-minute time limit for a meeting’s public comment was supported by Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis, Dwight White, and Sarah Davis.
Ward 6 Council member Dwight White says he sees the ordinances as an “encroachment on the First Amendment” and the “public has a right to address the City Council.”
White argues that if the public likes what the Council’s doing then they won’t show up to speak and is confident that the City would lose a First Amendment lawsuit in court.
Sarah Davis says we “shouldn’t have to put a limit in place because it’s not normal for the public to have to show up.” She says it’s an indication that the Council is not properly representing them.
Mayor Peter Schwartzman argued since essentially since the ordinance as originally proposed would allow 20 speakers to address the council at a meeting it would create “wrestling matches” to get to the podium.
Ward 5 Council member Heather Acerra says that the limitations proposed are not unconventional, saying that both the District 205 School Board and Knox County Board have time limits.
Council member White asked for an amendment to remove the limitation on Council member’s closing comments, but that was shot down in a 2-5 vote with only White and Davis voting in favor.
However, an amendment was passed to extend the Council members closing comments to 3 minutes instead of 2.
Steve Cheesman asked how long White wanted the limit to be. White replied that this is “his platform” and it’s “his right” to speak. The final vote 5-2 with only White and Davis opposed.
Meetings will also now begin at 6 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m., something approved unanimously.
