Tallahassee’s Office of the Inspector General recently released a report recommending the Tallahassee City Commission take action to establish standards of decorum for city public meetings.
In addition, the report recommended that the policy include enforcement protocols.
The report detailed a “Building Security” audit which noted disruptive and sometimes violent incidents at local government public meetings and events which have recently occurred with greater frequency around the country.
The report included a few examples of such incidents, one in New York City where a group of citizens repeatedly shouted their opposition to new vaccine mandates at a city commission meeting. Another interruption during a city meeting in Huntsville, Alabama, resulted in one person’s arrest after refusing to comply with law enforcement’s orders.
The Inspector General’s report further explains that the City of Tallahassee does not have a current policy to provide guidance for enforcement of standards of conduct.
In recent years, many municipalities have chosen to develop policies to deal with unruly civilians who wish to have their voices heard.
In 2019 Tampa created a new policy that bars personal attacks against city officials or other members of the public. According to an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Commissioner Harry Cohen commented on the changes. “We want to keep it respectful and businesslike. It should be a professional environment,” Cohen said.
Other examples of cities that have implemented these policies are the City of West Palm Beach, Miami City, and the City of Port St. Lucie. All the policies prohibit profanity and aggressive or threatening behavior and allow the presiding official to remove the persons from the room if necessary.
The recommendations call for amending City Commission Policy #108, which includes a “Pledge of Civility for public speakers that asks for attendees to be respectful, direct comments to issues, avoid personal attacks,” or develop a new code of conduct.
The report identifies examples of behaviors and activities that are generally considered disruptive and should be included in the policy. These examples include:
- Heckling, verbal outbursts or other interruptions.
- Shouting, yelling, screaming, threats, or other forms of verbal abuse.
- Noisemakers, air horns, whistles, or similar noise-making items.
- Signs, placards, banners, or objects that impede the visual rights of others.
- Approaching the dais to distribute materials to board members rather than providing these items to the recording secretary for orderly distribution and consideration.
- Refusal to relinquish the podium or microphone, or impeding the next speaker’s ability to provide public comments.
- Ringing cell phones or people speaking on cell phones in public meetings.
Tallahassee Inspector General Report Calls for Decorum Policy, Enforcement Tools added by Lynsey Kirk on
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To Hope: can you provide some insight on something I’m wondering about. You said, “John Dailey (& wife) do not serve the citizens they serve the agendas coming down from the Brandon Administration”. I dont disagree with you at all on that, you nailed it. But why did Dailey conspire to get David Bellamy, who I have read is a big Trump and Desantis supporter, to run against Commissioner Jeremy Matlow? I can’t make sense of it.
U people need to GROW UP…
If you need a decorum policy you are probably doing something wrong.
@ Tom,
…Mayor Marks, Gillum, Yordon, Ziffer, Pittman, DAILEY, GOAD, N. MADDOX and those who facilitated money to JT Burnette.
VOTERS WAKE-UP
Note to voters… Rickey-Trickey Minor and John Dailey (& wife) do not serve the citizens they serve the agendas coming down from the Brandon Administration and that is their sole focus… the FAILED Brandon Administration.
Where was the inspector general when Maddox and his cronies were stealing Tally blind for 20+ years?
Think about it these Nannies have become worse than having a super annoying “Karen” as the President of a Homeowners Association … you know I’m right about that.
I think our Nannies are going a little too far with that ringing and or speaking on our cell phones potential spanking of We The People who pay the Nannies salary. However We The People who pay the Nannies salary are 100% within our rights to demand the Nannies turn off their cell phones and that no Nannies speak on their cell phones during the meetings.
We The People are The Boss Men and Boss Ladies at the meetings and all the time.
Just who do these pompous @55wholes think they are to even think about treating We The People like we work for the Nannies?
We can probably get a homeless guy to moon them for like $10.
Yet another solution in search of a problem… “You vill do vut you are told, or zare vill be conseqvenses”
@ AD… put down the bong and back away slowly
Hey the fascists don’t like decorum…they want to bring their assault rifles and threaten anyone they like…and call it self defense.
This TR is the sandbox of the…..
I understand wanting to install a Decorum Policy before one is actually needed. I am shocked that one hasn’t been put in place already. Just know that, it needs to go BOTH ways as, the only decorum issues I have witnessed to date have been by those sitting on the Disease, in the past and recently. There is always a lot of Passion and Emotions flowing in that room so you need to lead by example and understanding and be careful about what you seek because it could backfire very easily. Yes, I agree with that list, and it needs to apply to all those in the Room, even those sitting on the Disease, especially to those sitting on the Disease, both City and County.
“The Inspector General’s report further explains that the City of Tallahassee does not have a current policy to provide guidance for enforcement of standards of conduct.”
You know what else it doesn’t have? A conduct problem. These “public servants” are trying to insulate themselves from the consequences of their governance. They think having to explain themselves and answer hard questions is disruptive behavior. They especially don’t want you approaching the dais and handing them anything that might enlighten their understanding.
Have you people all lost your minds? We are governed by a criminal cabal, right down to the Inspector General.
I have never witnessed any disturbing displays by the public when addressing Leon County city and county public officials.
I have witnessed public officials personally attacking public speakers… Mayor Marks, Gil Ziffer, and Scott Maddox.