|
Rockland County
Legislature To the Editor: The Rockland County Legislature welcomes more participation
from more people. That is why the Rules
for Public Participation were changed. Journal News articles give the opposite
impression. The changed rule does not affect Public Hearings, where
every person who wishes to address an issue can speak for as long as he or she
wishes to do so. Recent public hearing
topics have included annual budgets, smoking in restaurants; carbon monoxide
detectors; a ban on mercury thermometers, a ban on sale of products containing
prohormones to youth, tobacco securitization, acquisition of Erickson Farm, and
two upcoming public hearings on property tax exemptions for persons with disabilities
and people over 65 with limited income. Nor does this proposal affect any hearings held by
Legislators to solicit public input and advice, such as sessions I held
recently with Assemblyman Ryan Karben on the need for air quality monitors in
Rockland, or the hearings held over the years to gather testimony from
residents on their needs with regard to housing, affordable child care, AIDS
services, care for dependent elderly, child support, access to health care for
uninsured or underinsured people; or committee meetings on children, youth and
families at risk; Indian Point, Tappan Zee Bridge, Homeland Security and much
more. Many of these hearings have taken place in
neighborhoods—public libraries, village halls, Good Samaritan and Nyack
Hospitals, Rockland Community College and community centers. That is because legislators are eager to
hear from residents whose wisdom and experience help to create or change public
policy, and we go to where you are. This change in legislative rules seeks a balance between
giving people an opportunity to address the legislature on
any subject of their choosing and allowing legislators to give
proper attention to lengthy, substantive agendas which affect the lives of
Rockland’s 280,000 residents. It
increases the time allowed in our Rules from 30 minutes to 40 minutes. (In recent years, the 30 minutes was
informally stretched little by little to what is now regularly 2 to 2 ½ hours
before the legislature gets to discuss and vote on its agenda items.) Many constituents have come to speak about
agenda items but left before their turn is reached because of the late
hours. This change, which requires
remarks to be limited to two minutes instead of three, will accommodate
more speakers in a 40-minute period. Westchester County allows 30 minutes for public comment,
never longer. Dutchess and Orange
Counties meet once a month in the afternoon.
Comment is restricted to agenda items in Dutchess. Orange meets one Friday afternoon a month
and takes public comment on agenda items before the agenda and non-agenda items
afterwards. Putnam County Legislature
meets once a month and permits public comment only on agenda items. Rockland’s Legislature holds meetings of the full
Legislature twice a month in the evening to give working people every
opportunity to attend and participate. We welcome comment on both agenda and
non-agenda items. Our committee
meetings are held at night or early evening, and allow public input. Legislators meet with constituents daily and
offer a variety of opportunities for attention to public concerns. As issues
proliferate and interest grows, a good thing, we need to create a balance that
allows us both to listen attentively to those members of the public who attend
our meetings and still give full, thoughtful discussion and action on the
public’s business. Sincerely, |