Government bodies are not required to allow public comment at open meetings, though many do, and they are allowed to enforce reasonable rules to ensure meetings are orderly. Members of the public are allowed to use cameras and recording devices at open meetings, so long as they aren’t disruptive.

You will note that nowhere is the city administrator listed for input to council meetings nor is city administrator a member of the city council. That said — the council must be held responsible for their standing on any issue. They continue to find areas that allow for some shady deference to the norm. The city administrator is not an elected official. The administrator is hired by the council not by the taxpayers.

If the council does not allow public comment at open meetings it is censoring public comment and not allowing input by the people who ELECTED them to office.

IT IS TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF MARSHALLTOWN TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE ON THE COUNCIL WHO WOULD CENSURE THE INPUT OF ANY TAXPAYER BY NOT ALLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT AT OPEN MEETINGS.