Public Participation Policy
Effective: November 5, 2024
The Board of Trustees of the Ridgemont Public Library welcomes public input in its deliberations. The Board further recognizes both the importance of public comment on issues before the Board and the ability of a member or a group of the community to express their views on matters of interest to the library.
Any person or group wishing to be on the agenda must contact the Director by email or phone, at least one (1) week prior to the Board meeting and provide the following written information:
- Name, Address, Phone Number of the person requesting to speak
- The subject or issue on which they wish to speak
The Board is committed to conducting meetings in a civil, orderly, efficient and productive manner designed to allow the Board’s regular agenda to be completed in a reasonable period of time while allowing a fair and adequate opportunity for public input to be considered. Consequently, public participation at Board meetings will be governed by the following principles:
- Public participation at Board meetings is limited to the public comment portions of the meeting as indicated in the agenda. At all other times during a Board meeting, the audience will not be recognized by the Board unless specifically requested to do so by the President of the Board (or other presiding officers).
- A person or group wishing to address the Board must be physically present at the meetings. If an individual or group is unable to be present at a Board meeting, written comments from such individual or group will be received by the Secretary of the Board, prior to the conclusion of the meeting for submission or addition to the record.
- Each person addressing the Board will be allotted time not to exceed three (3) minutes. This time limit may be modified at the discretion of the Board in order to ensure an orderly and productive meeting. At the discretion of the President, the number of speakers may be limited to three (3) in opposition and three (3) in favor of the given agenda item.
- Persons addressing the Board are expected to observe a level of civility and decorum appropriate for a public meeting, and refrain from vulgar, profane, or harassing remarks. The President of the Board (or other presiding officers) may terminate any presentation deemed not to adhere to these standards.
- Tape or video recording are permitted. The person operating the recorder should contact the Library Director prior to the Board meeting and must agree to the placement of the equipment and to abide by the following conditions:
- No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.
- No interviews are conducted in the meeting room while the Board is in session
- No commentary, adjustment of equipment, or positioning of operations is made that would distract either the Board or members of the audience while the Board is in session.
- No disruption of the meeting.
Failure to adhere to the principle may result in removal from the meeting.