Item 9) indicates that individuals “will have up to 5 minutes to speak to the Board.” In my opinion, 5 minutes may be unnecessarily long, particularly if there are many speakers. More typical is a limitation of 3 minutes per speaker. The same provision states that “The Town Supervisor can end the address short or extend the allowable time.” In my view, it is questionable whether that authority may properly exist in one member of the Board. Better, in my opinion, would be: “The Town Board, upon approval of a motion to do so, may, for good cause expressed in the motion, reduce or extend the time during which an individual may speak.” |