Three-minute comment limit on hold by Middleboro School Committee

MIDDLEBORO - Middleboro School Committee members agreed to review the controversial policy limiting public comment at their meetings to three minutes.

That was one of the first decisions made at the April 9 meeting by committee members, four of them newly elected.

Newcomers Leah Machado, Sean Mokeler and Kimberly Redlon attended their first meeting. Newcomer Krysten Phillips was not in attendance.

“I don’t think there should necessarily be a time limit,’’ Machado said. “I’d like to see back and forth dialogue between the School Committee and the public.’’

The three-minute limit to public comment has sparked much discussion. Some community members have stated that the limitation inhibits communication and that their views were dismissed.

The three-minute policy was adopted based on recommendations from school officials at the state level, prior committee members have explained.

Because the time limit is mandated by an official committee policy, it cannot be officially altered unless the policy is changed, newly elected committee chair Susan Pennini said.

“There’s a process, and rightfully so,’’ for changing existing policy, she noted.

But a vote can be taken at each meeting to suspend the policy for that meeting, she said. That vote was taken at the April 9 meeting and will be done at future meetings until an official policy change is made.

Machado also said she would like to see committee members respond to public comment. Previously the public comment section of the meeting did not allow responses from committee members.

“It’s silly when you comment and everybody just sits there in silence,’’ she said.

Pennini clarified that open meeting law does not allow committee members to comment on items that are not on the agenda, although the public is welcome to “get up and speak about anything that’s within the committee’s purview.’’

But committee members can exchange in a dialogue on issues that are on the agenda after that specific item has been discussed.

Community members were encouraged to reach out to the School Committee about items that they would like to see on agendas.

“You all have a voice that should be heard,’’ committee member Christopher Benson said.

In accepting the role of chair, Pennini said she seeks to “create an environment where people really speak to one another and listen to one another and listen to the community when they want to speak.’’