COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency’s Board of Health approved a tweak in their by laws on Thursday which cover how audience members are expected to behave during the public comment portions of their meetings.
The additional language states, “Speakers are requested to provide comments that are civil and respectful.”
The action came just over a year after the board voted 3-2 in favor of changing the amount of time a member of the public can speak from five minutes down to three minutes.
They also decided unanimously at that time to add a second public comment period during the meetings.
The change last year came after some meetings featured numerous persons speaking on COVID-19 related issues such as masks and quarantines. There were times angry speakers made personal comments to the board and Health Officer Rebecca Burns. One contentious Health Board meeting in 2021 lasted for almost four hours.
Article 5, Section 3 of the Community Health Agency by laws now reads as follows, “For the purpose of public participation during public hearings or during the public comment portion of a meeting, every speaker prior to the beginning of the meeting is requested but not required to provide the Board with his or her name, address and subject to be discussed. Speakers are requested to provide comments that are civil and respectful. Each speaker will be allowed to speak for no more than three (3) minutes at each public comment opportunity.”
In other business during the board’s last meeting of 2022, Burns reported that current flu levels in Michigan are low but nearby states are showing “high” or “very high” levels which she says, “is an indication we will begin to see increasing levels.” The Health Department continues to encourage residents to get their flu vaccine if they have not done so yet.
Burns also said that the department’s COVID Coordinator Chaselyn Gibson reported to her last week that they are seeing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the tri-county area and that there has been a slight jump after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
100% unconstitutional. Not even a question. Presidencies have been set all over. If you want to be treated respectfully by the public, you need to treat them respectfully first.