Normal plans to allow more public comment at council meetings

Posted on March 7, 2017

Normal Town Council currently allows someone to speak to the council once every 45 days. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – The Town of Normal is looking to relax its public comment policy to make it easier for the public to address the town council.

Mayor Chris Koos is asking town staff to draw up an ordinance that would allow residents to speak at council meetings more than once every 45 days and move the speaking time from two to three minutes, though he said the council has generally given three minutes.

Koos said the town is looking to get ahead of any ruling that could come from the state attorney general’s office on its current policy.

“There’s a lot of back and forth on these decisions and that office is inundated with queries on public comment because of that difference of opinion,” Koos said. “We just decided it was time to do something and not wait any longer.”

Koos said the changes were a council decision, not motivated by his opponent in the mayor’s race. Mark Tiritilli has called for the town to eliminate its 45-day rule.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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