To Appear Before the Board
PRESENTATIONS TO THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors acknowledges
and agrees with the public policy of the State of Mississippi as
expressed by the Legislature, that "the formation and determination
of public policy is public business and shall be conducted at open
meetings except as otherwise provided [in the Open Meetings Act]."
Miss. Code Ann. §25-41-1. The Mississippi Supreme Court has recognized
that while citizens have the right to attend a public body's meetings
and to see and hear the deliberations in the decision making process,
citizens have no right to actively participate in the public meeting.
Hinds County Board of Supervisors v. Common Cause of Mississippi,
551 So.2d 107 (Miss. 1989). Therefore, the Legislature has determined
that, "Any public body may make and enforce reasonable rules and
regulations for the conduct of persons attending its meetings."
Miss. Code Ann. §25-41-9.
In accordance with these principles, the Alcorn County
Board of Supervisors has determined that it is desirable to institute
certain reasonable rules and procedures to be followed by any person
wishing to address the Board on a matter of public concern. Such
procedures shall be as follows:
1. Any person wishing to appear before the Board of
Supervisors to discuss a matter of County business or a matter of
concern to the County must make a request to the Board of Supervisors
office to be placed on the Agenda no later than noon on the Wednesday
prior to the Monday meeting at which the person wishes to speak,
and shall provide the following information with such request:
a) A brief written statement identifying the substance of the presentation
or issue to be discussed;
b) A copy of all handouts, exhibits and supporting documentation
to be presented at the meeting; and
c) The name of the individual making the presentation, and if the
presentation is made on behalf of a group or entity, the name of
such group or entity.
2. The Board of Supervisors reserves the right, in
its sole discretion, (i) to permit the presentation to be placed
on the meeting Agenda for consideration, (ii) to deny the request
to make the presentation, (iii) to set a special meeting of the
Board to hear the matter if the Board determines that discussion
of the same will require a significant amount of time, (iv) to limit
the scope of the issues or matters to be presented, or (v) to make
any other determination necessary for the efficient and effective
conduct of public business at the meeting.
3. In the event that a request to make a presentation
is made on behalf of a group of people or an organization, one person
from such group or organization shall be designated as the spokesperson
to make the presentation, and only that person will be permitted
to address the Board, unless the Board determines that it wishes
to hear from other individuals from the group or organization.
4. Because regular Board Meetings involve the discussion
of many issues of public business, presentations from citizens appearing
before the Board shall be limited to five (5) minutes. The Board
reserves the right to extend or shorten the time for presentation
in its discretion.
5. The Board reserves the right to take action on
any issue presented to the Board, to table the matter for further
deliberation at a later time, to request additional information
on the matter, or to take no action.
6. All presentations to the Board must concern Alcorn
County business matters or a legitimate matter of public concern
to Alcorn County, in the determination of the Board.
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