Issues over not being allowed to speak at public meetings resurfaced at the Middlesex County Board of Supervisors Sept. 9 meeting when Supervisors Chairman Don Harris threatened to have citizens removed from the room for not abiding by public comment rules.
For about 10 years now, Middlesex supervisors have conducted two monthly meetings on the same day. A general business meeting is conducted during the day that allows two public comment periods. The night meeting is generally offered for public hearings on specific items and the public comment period has been restricted to the hearings being considered.
Due to complaints that the public did not have enough opportunities to speak, both boards now allow one comment period near the start of the meeting and one at the end.
During a public hearing at the Sept. 9 night meeting on a specific special exception matter, James W. Evans said he wanted to speak on the special exception matter, which he did and then he began to speak on unrelated concerns over the upcoming tax reassessment.
Harris attempted to stop Evans, “Sir, Sir, Sir, this is not the time to speak on that matter,” He explained that the board held two other public comment periods earlier when citizens could have spoken.
Denied
Evans said that people work during the day and cannot make day meetings. He continued to speak out on his concerns over what he had read in the Southside Sentinel article “Another real estate assessment may tax some out of homes” and Harris continued to try to stop him.
Several people in the audience also wanted a chance to speak on the matter and were denied. At one point Harris warned citizens that he would have them removed from the building if they did not stop talking.
County Administrator Matt Walker said that the article in the Sentinel was accurate but if citizens want further explanation he would be glad to meet with them at anytime. He also said citizens could express their concerns during the supervisors day meetings at the two public comment periods.
Evans said he would certainly be there.
Ongoing issue
This is not the first time citizens have been upset over not being allowed to speak at board meetings.
The Middlesex County School Board denied a county minister whose residency was out of the county to speak at a November 2023 public comment period, under a policy that only Middlesex County residents can speak during a public comment period.
The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was strongly opposed to the policy saying it was too restrictive. Supervisors continue to use that policy at their board’s public comment periods.
The Urbanna Town Council restricted a couple from speaking when they arrived late to a meeting after driving from a long distance. After that, council increased public comment periods to two comment periods at the regular council meeting and one at the work session. Town council conducts two meetings a month on different days.
