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The Hamblen County Commission Rules Committee voted to approve a set of guidelines designed to streamline public comment portions of commission meetings.

The committee voted to restrict specific actions that have been taking place during public portions of meetings.

Officials said the new guidelines are designed to regain structure to meeting.

Among the guidelines, the committee voted to not allow any disruptive comments or remarks from the audience including stamping of feet, whistles, yells, and similar demonstrations.

“These guidelines have been what we used, but as we stated when we opened the rules committee everything we have done we have always reverted to the past, but as we act on these the come to the forefront,” said County Commission Chairman Chris Cutshaw. “We will enact these guidelines as we accept them, before we have not but will from this point forward.”

Commissioner Bobby Haun agreed.

“Any kind of overt demonstration from anyone will not be tolerated,” he said. “We will keep ourselves in check and we ask that the public does as well.”

The committee also voted to not allow any placards, banners or signs in the County Commission meeting room or in any other room in which the County Commission is meeting.

Commissioner Edna Greene asked for clarification on the term “placard.”

She asked if a piece of paper attached to her shirt is what is referenced.

Haun said consistency is what’s required.

“We just need to have a consistent rule, because where do we draw the line?” Haun asked. “Should we say that it has to be five inches bigger, and what is stopping someone from bring in a piece of paper with something derogatory on it.”

“These rules have to apply to everyone. We cannot sit here and say your sign is permissible and your sign isn’t.”

Commissioner Joe Huntsman said the commission meetings are not the place for disruptive actions.

“I put presidential candidate’s stickers on my car to bring attention to me, when someone brings in a placard they are trying to bring attention to themselves, and I think some places that is good and I think some places is not and commission meetings are not that place,” said Huntsman. “Placards and signs can be disruptive and we know that from past history as placard and signs were in here a couple of months ago and drew a lot of disruption and that situation ended up in court and we don’t want to play judge and jury.”

The committee also noted its intention to follow a guideine already in place but not being enforced.

Cameras, video equipment, and other recording devices will be restricted to a designated area of the meeting room and those using them will not allowed to interfere with the conduct of the meeting.

“A phone’s video camera is not disruptive, now I understand if Channel 8 came with their cameras, but someone’s phone isn’t really disruptive,” Commissioner Peggy Howell countered.

“Here’s the thing though if someone brings in a full fledged video camera and we tell them they have to sit in the back but a citizen can record up front just because their equipment is shorter,” Haun said. “I believe we need a constant rule. This has been a rule for a long time we just haven’t enforced it.”

The committee also voted to approve a set of guidelines that the members of the audience must follow before being approved to speak before the commission.

A person wishing to address the County Commission must first be recognized by the Commission Chairman and must use a sign in sheet to provide their name and address for the minutes.

The sheet will be placed at the back on the court room before the meeting starts, once the meeting starts the sheet will be placed at the podium for those to sign in if they come in late.

The public can also verbally provide their name and address if they do not wish to sign in.

Speakers must address their comments to the Commission Chairman rather than to individual members of the County Commission or staff.

Each speaker will now be allowed a maximum of three minutes to address the County Commission Committees with an allotted time of 15 total minutes for speakers before each committee.

However, if a large number of speakers are present to address an issue, the committee can adjust the limit on the total time allowed for all speakers.

“It has been stated that, if it is needed, by majority we can allow time. When there is a large number it’s a lot of redundant comments. After the first 10 we get the picture. If there is a genuine concern we have the opportunity to expand that by majority rule,” Cutshaw said.

Greene asked if the committee would raise the total speaking time to 30 minutes to allow more opportunities for the public to speak.

“We are here to listen, but this is not the only avenue to address our body. If there is a genuine concern, and a person has come to several commissioners to address the issue we can vote to extend the allotted speaking time,” Cutshaw said. “This is not the only opportunity to reach out, people can contact commissioners anytime via phone call, text or email.”

When it comes to full commission meetings, however, the committee approved a limit of 30 minutes of total speaking time for agenda items and 30 minutes for non-agenda items, with a total of an hour of public speaking time.

These guidelines will only be finalized by a vote from the entire commission.

The commission is scheduled vote on these issues at its next meeting on February 23.