Citizens of Sulphur may soon learn the fate of “Public Participation” at regular monthly council meetings.
Mayor Darrell Cole has requested a special council meeting to be held on Monday, Sept. 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sulphur City Complex Meeting Room to discuss the issue.
At the board’s September 9 meeting, “Public Participation” was left off the agenda, but not as a result of a vote of the council members.
For many, many years “Public Participation” has been on the agenda for local citizens to voice issues or concerns within in the City of Sulphur.
During the new business portion of the September 9 meeting, Ward 1 Councilman Alan McKay questioned City Attorney Les Wesberry as to why and who gave authority for the agenda item to be omitted from the meeting.
McKay said not having the agenda item was only trying to silence the people.
Prior to the posting the agenda on Friday, September 6, Wesberry sent a group email to all five council members with subject as “Public Comments and asked the group to please do not respond to the group.
The email stated Wesberry was reaching out to provide some clarification on the topic of removing “Public Comments” or “Public Participation” from the agenda for the City and Sulphur Municipal Authority (SMA) meetings.
Wesberry further stated that after discussions with other city attorneys and guidance from OMAG, “we’ve come to the consensus that public comments during council meetings are not the best approach”. Wesberry went on in the email to provide a few reasons why the practice could present challenges. The reasons given were: 1. Potential frustration for citizens; 2. risk of Open Meeting Act violations; and 3. Inefficiency in governance.
When being questioned about the decision, of which the council members had no say, Wesberry told McKay he did not make the final decision to remove it, he only advised it. He also told members they could put it on a future agenda to create a policy to allow for public participation.
According to the regular council meeting held inAugust of 2023, it appears somewhat of a policy was established.
In the clerk’s minutes of the August 14, 2023 council meeting, Mayor Darrell Cole stated he wanted to go over the rules of the meeting that had been adopted before gong any further.
Cole said that if you wish to speak you must sign up and list the agenda item number about which you wish to speak. Cole further stated that if you are not speaking on an agenda item you will speak under public participation. He requested the speaker come to the front, state their name and they will have two minutes to speak. Additionally, he said no one can interrupt during that time and there is a possibility that the time could be extended if needed.
Upon investigation, it was found that several municipalities allow for public participation on the agenda as well as appearing on the agenda for county commissioners regular meetings.
All local citizens interested in being able to speak at council meetings are encouraged to attend the September 30 meeting.
