SB chair announces return of public comment period

By Mike Berger

Tom Theodore, chair of the Canton Select Board, announced at Tuesday night’s board meeting that the public comment period will be returning as of Tuesday, October 24.

Theodore said this issue was raised by many of the 17 residents who attended the Select Board’s first office hours on Tuesday, October 3. Theodore had announced the postponement of the public comment period a few weeks ago so that emotions could “simmer down.”

Theodore also announced that the board would hold its next office hours on Tuesday, October 17, from 3-5 p.m.

Theodore and Select Board Clerk Mike Loughran attended the first office hours last week and both came away pleased with the session.

Theodore and Loughran met with residents, both individually and in groups, between 6 and 8 p.m., with meetings lasting an average of about 15 minutes.

“It was a great idea,” Theodore said. “People were relaxed; people felt comfortable and were able to speak their mind.”

Loughran echoed Theodore’s thoughts and said it was good to hear from people who usually did not participate in the public comment period.

Theodore and Loughran said no topics were off limits and people wanted to talk about the return of the public comment period, the reputation of the town, individual committee assignments for Select Board members, and how to improve the visibility of meeting minutes.

In regard to the questions posed, Theodore said he wanted to emphasize that, “When we have answers, we will report back to the public.”

Those interested in meeting with the Select Board members were asked to sign in when they arrived and met with Theodore and Loughran on a first-come, first-served basis in the Paul Carroll meeting room. Different Select Board members will attend each office hour session.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Attorney Rich Hucksam of the town counsel’s office addressed the board and offered his legal opinion regarding public meetings and the public comment period. He said the board is required to notify the public of a board meeting at least 48 hours in advance and that no member of the public has the right to speak unless recognized by the chair. He added that a public comment period is not required and the board can set time limits on the comment period and a time limit for each speaker. On the other hand, Hucksam said the content of public comments cannot be regulated nor can the civility of the comments be governed.

Hucksam also touched on recording and streaming of public meetings. He said these practices are allowed but the chair must be notified and the recording cannot disrupt the meeting.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by more than 20 residents and many held signs expressing their dissatisfaction with the board and its practices. A few held signs outside of Town Hall. This marked the first meeting that a police officer attended in a security capacity. Select Board member Chris Albert was not in attendance due to work-related reasons.

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