Norfolk City Council meetings have been marked by growing friction this summer over a rule that gives the mayor the ability to restrict public comments considered repetitive.
The policy has drawn sharp criticism from local residents who argue that limiting speech during public forums shuts down their primary direct channel to elected officials. City Council members, however, defend the rule as a way to stop organized advocacy groups from dominating public comment.
The council’s Rules of Procedure allow the mayor to shorten or deny a speaker’s time if their remarks are repetitive, cumulative or cover a topic that has already received sufficient debate in current or past sessions. The rules also say public remarks during new business must introduce new topics rather than rehash previous comments…