Politics & Government

A Quicker 'Hook' at Smyrna City Council Meetings?

Smyrna-Vinings Patch asks if changes are warranted during the citizen input portion of Smyrna City Council meetings?

OK, so according to a small blurb in today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Monday’s Cobb commission work session included an interesting item.

It seems it was decided that during the public comment portion of future meetings, if an individual becomes abusive and/or makes personal attacks, County Attorney Dorothy Bishop can now step in and provide a quicker “hook.’’

Like Smyrna City Council meetings, speakers are given three minutes to speak their peace at county commission meetings. And like Smyrna City Council meetings, things can get a little testy and personal during the citizen input portion.

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The change came in response to when a speaker went personally at Chairman Tim Lee at a Sept. 27 board meeting, voicing his displeasure that Lee wasn’t making eye contact with him. The chairman responded that the resident needed to keep his comments on topic.

Generally, Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon and the council refrain from commenting following the at times personal attacks from the small but vocal group of citizens who criticize their work at meetings (unless to dispute and correct inaccuracies).

Find out what's happening in Smyrna-Viningswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The question here is do you think a quicker hook should be given to citizens who become abusive and/or make personal attacks at Smyrna City Council meetings?

And overall, what changes need to be made, if any, with the citizen input portion of the meeting? Let us know what you think with your civil comments and opinions.


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