BELLE — Belle aldermen on Feb. 12 passed an ordinance establishing rules to govern the public comments portion of all open meetings with a 3-0 vote.

Once passed, the ordinance was effective immediately. Guests on the agenda to speak at the meeting had five minutes to share concerns at the end of the evening’s agenda. Those who signed up at the meeting to speak had three minutes to address the board after all other guests finished.

According to Ordinance 629 - Establishing Rules for Public Participation During Board Meetings, “aldermen…wish to allow public participation during the board meetings but wish to maintain order, decorum, and proper parliamentary procedure.”

The purpose of Ordinance 629 is to ensure that order is maintained at all times during board meetings while providing all interested parties the opportunity to participate. The following rules are to be established:

• The mayor or pro tem shall preside over the meeting;

• Individual speakers will have three minutes to speak. The speaker asks for more time, but the mayor is not required to agree;

• Members of the public may not speak more than once during the public comments portion of the meeting unless called upon by the mayor to clarify any comments;

• All questions must be addressed to the mayor who may refer the question to another person;

• Neither the mayor nor the board have to engage in dialog with the public during the public comments portion of the meeting. The purpose of this portion of the meeting is to allow the public to express concerns. In most cases, the mayor or board will respond with a “thank you” and move on to the next comment or agenda item. The public is not entitled to have their questions or demands answered immediately;

• No person may speak to the board that has not been called on by the mayor. All speakers called by the mayor must address the board from their seat or, if available, the podium and must orally identify themselves by name and residential address.

• After the public comments portion of the meeting has ended, no further public testimony will be permitted;

• Persons yelling or otherwise addressing the board at the incorrect time or without being properly called upon are out of order. Persons who have been ruled out of order that continue to be ‘distributive’ can be asked to leave the premises. Persons who refuse to leave after being ordered to do so shall be guilty of trespassing. Persons making threats or engaging in other conduct prohibited by 574.010, RSMo., shall be guilty of peace disturbance;

• The following shall appear on the bottom of all agendas “Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. Persons wishing to make a longer presentation must request in writing to be placed on the agenda no less than three (3) business days before the date of the meeting;

• Any portion of any previous ordinance which conflicts with the terms of this ordinance is repealed; and

• This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage and approval.