News Flash

CITY OF PHILLIPSBURG

GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:

1)    City Council meetings are not a meeting of the public. It is a meeting of the City Council held in public so citizens can listen and observe the proceedings. Public comment period is for members of the public to address the council on any subject relevant to city policies, operations, or services.

2)    Comments are to be addressed to the council, not individual members, or to anyone not on the council. 

3)    Anyone wishing to make a public comment at a meeting of the Phillipsburg City Council must contact the city office by 2:00 on Friday prior to meeting on Monday and be put on the agenda for that meeting. 

4)    Public comment is not an opportunity to question or debate members of council, and the City Council will not engage in a dialogue or debate with any speaker pertaining to any comments made. However, brief factual information may be provided by the mayor or council members, if appropriate.

5)    The time limit for each speaker is 3 minutes. Groups with a common concern may choose a speaker, who will have a time limit of 5 minutes. Speakers may not donate their time to others.

6)    Comments related to general personnel policies or concerns that do not involve specific individuals are allowed, but comments regarding specific non-elected city personnel are not permitted. 

7)     Members of the public can submit written comments or concerns regarding specific non-elected personnel to the city office prior to a council meeting. These written comments will be given to the council for consideration in executive session. Anonymous written comments will not be accepted.

8)    Public comments on city social media accounts are disabled to limit abusive or harassing comments, to create a more respectful and controlled environment, and to limit the spread of possible misinformation.