After backlash, Rehoboth commissioners backtrack on limiting public comments

Mayor Paul Kuhns wanted to save time.

He limited public comment to the beginning of the Rehoboth Beach commissioners meetings before deliberations began.

His plan didn't last long. 

The last two Rehoboth Beach commissioners meetings have been filled with residents' lengthy complaints about how public comment has been moved.

When Sam Cooper was mayor, meetings consisted not only of comments between commissioners but also with the public when items were being considered.

On Monday, Kuhns switched it back. 

"We have a full audience full of amazing people — lawyers, CPAs, all of these people bring to the table a lot," resident Frank Cooper said Monday. "So here you have an incredible resource, and I urge you to use that."

At the previous meeting on Oct. 30, commissioners heard from a number of concerned citizens regarding not being allowed to speak on matters being considered and public comment being moved to the beginning of the meeting.

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Kuhns suggested keeping the public comment during the beginning portion of the meeting, but he also recommended allowing for citizens' participation during agenda items once the commissioners are finished deliberating but before any vote.

"My feeling is that public comments early in the agenda are very important, depending on what we talked about at previous meetings or depending on what people have specifically to comment about in public," Kuhns said. "I think that's very helpful."

Public participation during agenda items will be allowed during old business at workshop meetings as well as during regular meetings, Kuhns said, and there should be no expectations that the commissioners will respond verbally during the meeting.

Citizens participation during agenda items, similar to the ones at the beginnings of meetings, will also be limited to three minutes per person.

"My suggestion going forward would be to reach out more for citizen participation again since people have mentioned that is something people care about during our regular meetings," he said.

Fellow commissioners voiced support for the mayor's plans.

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Commissioner Stan Mills was on board but said there should be no time constraints on comments made by citizens.

"From the beginning, and over the years, and 19 years as a citizen ... and 11 years as a commissioner, I have spoke up before, and I'll say it again: any amount of public comment is welcome to me," he said.

Kuhns said after the meeting he is hoping the new meeting format will go into effect at the next regular Rehoboth Beach commissioners meeting on Nov. 17.

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