BOC approves new comment policy
Our Board of Commissioners recently approved a new public comment policy in order to stop personal attacks made against them during meetings.
According to Resolution 2011-28, “. . . it is the policy of the Board that it fully supports and encourages public participation, it does not support disrespectful behavior and therefore establishes the following policy with respect to receiving public comments at the regular meetings of the Board and that it is in the best interest of the citizen to establish this policy.”
It goes on to state that abusive language and personal attacks won’t be tolerated not only against BOC members, but also county employees and citizens. Additionally, all BOC meetings are audio taped “to ensure fairness and accuracy”, and speakers must identify themselves and the county they reside in before addressing the Board.
While Clayton residents who do speak out are very opinionated and passionate about various county issues, are personal attacks on anyone, elected official or not, really necessary? Will name calling help to solve any of our problems?
Public comments are still limited to two minutes per speaker at the end of regular business meetings and work sessions, before Executive Session. You must sign up with the Clerk (usually a sheet of paper on a table at the back of the room) prior to the start of meetings. BOC meetings are held on the first, second, and third Tuesday of each month at 112 Smith Street, Jonesboro.
Your thoughts on the BOC’s new public comment policy? Have you ever witnessed personal attacks on any commissioner during the BOC meetings?
This is not an invitation to launch personal attacks on the commissioners, either. Please keep your comments on topic, thanks.
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65 comments Add your comment
say what?
March 17th, 2011
2:25 pm
@Synamom Says! The blog headline was about communication, so I am focused. Others, and you, added the DA issue to the blog. Perhaps instead of believing everything the BOC members tell you, listen to what is not being said by them. I was a staunch supporter of the BOC members, but as time has gone by, my issues were not addressed, and even with follow up to my BOC member, the county continues to not understand the economics of jobs being moved to Gwinnett County. My interpretation of the failure to act behalf of the citizens of Clayton County for over 13 months (yep, I still have the copy of the emails)to save jobs showed me that this group of BOC are continuing high school folley at our expense. The combined TABE level for the three is not graduate ready as they continue to think that a Walmart or QuickTrip (although they are fine establishments) will spur economic development. There are more issues in this county than people being disrespectful to the three in the use of speech in a public forum. I do believe that there should be a decorum in communications, but I know that people tend to mirror what you give to them. No one to blame but themselves for the disrespect.
If the chairman, or ANY Clayton citizen has the ear of the media, then so be it. Know that they (the media) are there waiting to pounce, then behave accordingly. If you, as a concerned citizen want to show the positive actions occurring in Clayton County, please use your organizations/connections to do so.
Brick House in FP
March 17th, 2011
2:42 pm
SynamonSays! “All things negative are broadcast across the nation about Clayton County.”
The News Agencies can only do so much to uncover the truth about Clayton County, but, they still do a very good job of informing the citizens and attempting to expose the facts.
I have never read or heard the News Agencies report on our Legislative Branch from Clayton County and what a fine job that they have done to sell out the citizens in this county to The City of Atlanta.
A least, It’s good to see an Elected Official looking out for the best interest for the citizens of this county, although the powers of a D.A. in limited, she does respect The U.S. Constitution, The Georgia Constitution, Our Federal, State, and Local Laws. Sometimes, the real assets of our county can’t be found on the News.
:
Roach
March 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sometimes you have to go public. It’s a shame that it comes to that, but once someone has made a bad decision (or a lo-o-o-ng string of them), there may be nothing else left. Moreover, public notice means they can’t claim ignorance in the future–after all, they taped it. Yeah, something is way wrong with this picture, but fortunately Clayton County has a competent and independent DA–and solicitor.
SynamonStays?
March 17th, 2011
2:49 pm
Syn, how long you been here? Three…four…five years at most? You acing like a jackanapes. Ever certain but always wrong. Quit being Wade & Three’s shill and just keep agitating with the NAACP.
Brick House in FP
March 17th, 2011
3:10 pm
SynamonSays!”All things negative are broadcast across the nation about Clayton County”
Our current D.A. in this county is one of the positive sides, that the press is reporting on; It shows that there is still an elected official in Clayton County that represents The U.S.Constitution, The Georgia Constitution, The State Laws of Georgia, and an Ethical Approach to contribute order to an otherwise questionable Government in our county.
If not for The News Agencies, to inform the citizens of this county, would we not still have our previous dysfunctional court system in our county ?
BnB
March 17th, 2011
5:53 pm
Hey Synamon – It is called democracy in action. IT is called free press. It is called Sunshine Laws. It is called Transparency in Govt. IT is something the Democrats want when the Republicans are in office, but consider a nuisance and unneeded when they, the Democrats are in office. It least you can try to be consistent here.
Besides – to usurp the rules of the BOC as to a new resolution, it must be deemed an emergency. Wole deemed it an emergency. Makes you wonder what he and the others are trying to hide. Either deem it an emergency and hide it or live with even more embaressment and possible illegal actions and activity by the 3 amigo and their mentor.
SynamonSays!
March 17th, 2011
7:36 pm
Brick House in FP—that is your opinion….again civic illiteracy is rampant in this county.
Melvin Cox
March 17th, 2011
8:20 pm
I see some folk got called out big time! I wonder if more documents have been shredded? I rarely attend commissioner’s meetings, but maybe I should start going now since justice is raining down like river!
LMAO!!!!
Nospin
March 17th, 2011
9:24 pm
The empire begins to crumble! Tracey Lawson is one of the few above it all. A “real” DA who does not play games.
Oedipus
March 17th, 2011
10:21 pm
The DA told the county commissioners they had violated state open meeting law by adding two items to the agenda without proper notice. The two resolutions were quickly approved. One said the commissioners would not waive attorney-client privilege for two county attorneys who have been subpoenaed as witnesses in the case against finance director. She need to take their accreditation; violating one open meeting cost the kids. Clayton’s white population plummeted from 82,637 to 36,610, a 56 percent decline. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew more100 percent in Clayton County; the Census numbers show. Too bad two years is all she gets! TDW have made sure that her and Barney Fiff are overwelhingly rolled out of here
Right Thinking
March 17th, 2011
10:30 pm
All the commission members have to do is prolong the investigation and court dates and this DA is out of here! One man unjustice from south GA have sealed her fate; and you guys know that. TDW!
Thank You Kimberly
March 17th, 2011
11:31 pm
Kimberly, I just want to take the time to just thank you for all you do on behalf of the citizens of Clayton County with your weekly Clayton Talk Blog.
It is just great that in reading the comments on the topic of the week, even though some have veered somewhat off-topic, that the citizens can write about their passionate, heartfelt, and emotional feelings on a particular topic that is on their “hearts” and that is great indeed.
People who write and post their comments on your topic of the week owe you a great debt of gratitude and heartfelt thank you’s because if they do not appreciate what you do for the citizens of Clayton County with this weekly Clayton Talk Blog, they will if this weekly Clayton Talk Blog was ended.
People like you are the true heros in Clayton county because your weekly Clayton Talk Blog provides to the citizens of Clayton County a voice in matters that are important to us that our elected officials in Clayton County from the Clayton County Board Of Commissioners, the Clayton County School Board Of Education, the Clayton County Legistative Delegation in the State Of Georgia House Of Representatives and the State Of Georgia State Senate do not allow because in my opinion, they lie to us, misstate what they will do for us in Clayton County if we vote for them, which they bad decisions and not good ones, do nothing for the citizens of Clayton County but do everything to enrich and profit themselves and their well-connected friends, business partners, and associates, and in my opinion, the majority of them are just plain crooked, deceitful, liers, on-the-take, dishonest, untrustworthy, treacherous, underhanded, shady, dishonorable, unprincipled, unethical, unreliable, devious, slick, disrespectful, and insincere.
Thank you Kimberly for not being this type of person but being a person of high character, values, honest, even-handed, more than fair, understanding, sensitive, and caring to the hurts, frustrations, rage, and anger that many of the citizens of Clayton County with our do-nothing look out only for themselves elected officials of Clayton County by giving the citizens of Clayton County to post these feelings and thoughts on your blog on your weekly topic that pertains to the situation and problems at that time.
Kimberly, I am also aware that your Clayton Talk Blog is one of the few if not the only county blog on ajc.com and I sincerely hope that you will continue to provide the citizens of Clayton County this most valuable service, your weekly Clayton Talk Blog, so that we can continue to express our views, thoughts, and feelings on your enlightening, insightful, intelligent, and well-written weekly blog topics.
Continue the great work.
SynamonSays!
March 18th, 2011
9:26 am
Seems as though I have an unwanted fan base. Whatever “SynamonSays!” sparks strong comments that are overall completely off base. Most of which are hateful, mean-spirited and false. Oh well that is the social network in action.
Nospin
March 18th, 2011
10:15 am
Right Thinking
Are you saying that the typical voter in Clayton County is stupid, and will vote based solely on one case, which a certain entity is just waiting to use against her when the time comes? If so, the counties voters only reinforce what outsiders think of them. I won’t go there, and they deserve hat they get. Jewell! LOL!
The Plutocrats
March 18th, 2011
10:52 am
I see Jewell is still lurking the blog…
Or is that Lee with the TDW report?