GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — At Wednesday’s Greenfield City Council meeting, a heated discussion arose when the issue of amending the rules of procedure for public participation came up. All councilors could agree on the importance of public comment, which has always been an option at every meeting at the discretion of the presiding chair, but ultimately voted to send the issue back to subcommittee for further work. 

According to councilor Katherine Golub, the public participation amendment was a project began in a previous council term after the issue was raised by former Councilor Jasper Lapienski and residents. The changes to the rules and procedure include codifying the opportunity for public comment at every council meeting, which has previously been an option at every meeting at the discretion of the chair, and multiple councilors supported the effort to ensure the right to public comment regardless of the chair’s will.

However, several other councilors spoke to the manner in which the amendment was brought forth, creating the perception that public comment hasn’t always been an option at council meetings. Another concern around the amendment was the possibility of meetings where public comment was not appropriate, for example, in an emergency council meeting where councilors would only be entering into an executive session with no public portion.

Ultimately, the council voted to send the issue back to subcommittee, Appointments and Ordinances, to continue the work on.