New Restrictions on Public Speech for Findlay Council

BY PATTY KLEIN


FINDLAY - On Monday, the Findlay City Council Ad Hoc committee held, what was supposed to be, their final meeting. The Ad Hoc committee was formed to review the rules of oral comments at city council meetings and presented new restrictions on public communication at their July 22 meeting.

The committee, chaired by Councilman Josh Palmer, had been trialing a set of rules penned mostly by Councilman Dan DeArment. After the trial run, the committee was to meet a final time to finalize the new rules. 

At the July 22 meeting, Mr. DeArment revealed the new restrictions brought to him by Council President Harrington. These rules were add-ons that had not been previously presented to the public for input, like the previously trialed rules. 

Included in the newly suggested rules is a requirement for anyone who submits written correspondence to include their name, address, phone number and signature. If all of these items are not included, it will not be presented to city council. Emailed correspondence must include name, address, phone number and a confirmation email. Emails missing these items will not be sent to council. 

At the meeting, Mr. Harrington asked that an existing rule, that requires all letters to be a request for service, should be deleted. Mr. DeArment stated that residents often comment on topics such as immigration and that does not qualify as a request for service. Committee members voted to remove that requirement.

Residents often request that their letters be read aloud at council meetings. Mr. Harrington is requesting that no letters be read aloud without a first and second and a vote by council. This has already been an ongoing practice when a request is made.

Mr. DeArment further commented that he will always vote “no” on requests for letters to read aloud.

“Clerk of Council Devore is a great reader but I don’t need her to read that to me. It’s just a waste of time,” DeArment said.

Councilman Hellman pushed back, suggesting that residents often request the readings in order to better inform residents watching online. According to Hellman, not all interested residents read the agenda and minutes of council.  DeArment reminded the committee that the letters are part of the council agenda, so reading is not necessary. 

Another new rule suggested by Mr. Harrington was to ban the reading of letters that have been submitted in writing at council meetings. DeArment again felt this was redundant. Recently, two residents have read their letters and commented at the city council meeting. 

According to Councilman Palmer, the choice of reading a letter already submitted should be left to the resident since it is their four minutes to speak. Mr. DeArment asked for Mr. Hellman’s opinion. Hellman agreed with Mr. DeArment to ban this practice. 

Mr. Hellman asked if residents who speak understand the rules of council. It was suggested that oral communication rules and ward maps be posted. Mr. DeArment suggested that “the regulars” who speak might understand but not all those who speak are informed. Committee members voted to post the oral communication rules as well as a permanent ward map by the council chamber doors. 

Having no further new comments, the Ad Hoc committee voted 3-0 to accept the new “edits” to council rules. 

The recordings of the Ad Hoc committee meetings can be viewed on the City of Findlay YouTube channel.