Bridgeport ... A Community Living and Growing Together

REGULAR Town Board Meeting: Wednesday, April 2, 2024 | Election Commission Agendas & Minutes | More Information: Agendas  , Minutes  , Schedules

The Bridgeport Charter Township Planning Commission recognizes the value of public comment on township zoning issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on matters of community interest. But, for the benefit of all, and in the interest of all, the following rules of participation and public comment shall apply at all meetings as allowed by the Open Meetings Act.

Any person or group wishing to place an item on the agenda shall register their intent in writing with the Township Building Official/Administrator no later than seven (7) days prior to the meeting and include name and address of the participant, group affiliation, and the topic to be addressed.

The Township Administrator or Chairperson of the Planning Commission shall administer these rules for public conduct.

The Township Administrator or Chairperson shall be guided by the following rules:

  1. Attendees must register their intention to participate in the public portion of the meeting upon their arrival at the meeting or at the public comment point of the agenda.
  2. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address, and group affiliation, if and when appropriate.
  3. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration, unless extended by the presiding officer.
  4. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic.
  5. To ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to speak, please be brief and limit your comments to one topic.
  6. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question Commissioner Members individually.
  7. The Commissioners will not respond to comments made during the public participation periods unless it is necessary to ask a clarifying question, correct a factual error, or provide specific factual information in answer to a direct question.
  8. The presiding officer may:
    1. interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant’s statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene, or irrelevant;
    2. request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum;
    3. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person’s conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting;
    4. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum