The Clayton County Commission is suspending public comments for future meetings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Commission Chairman Jeff Turner said social distancing has made it difficult for the public to physically attend meetings where residents can voice their thoughts on the county’s direction, leading him to put public comment on hold.
“With the new guidelines that the CDC has put out with how (the coronavirus) is transmitted, I think it’s safe for us not to actually have citizens to come into the boardroom, Turner said at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
"We know that the virus can survive on certain surfaces for long periods of time," he added. "It's for the safety of our employees, not only the citizens who might come to the boardroom."
How to handle public comment during the pandemic is controversial. School boards, city councils and other government bodies that have moved to online meetings have tried a mixture of solutions, from requiring the public to submit questions in advance of meetings to allowing residents to join conference calls, some of which have resulted in frustration for both parties.
First amendment and government transparency experts say cutting out the public entirely ignores open government laws.
Turner said while residents won't be able to speak directly to the commission during an open comment period, residents can submit questions or statements to the county website. That link is https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/government/board-of-commissioners/public-comment-form
About the Author
