The Fairfax Town Council will consider implementing a number of rules restricting the behavior of public speakers at its Nov. 1 meeting.
People who “disturb, disrupt, impede, or render infeasible the orderly conduct of a public meeting,” can be ejected from the meeting, the new rules say.
If implemented, you can be removed if you are loud, abusive, impertinent, applaud, boo or impede the meeting. Bringing placards, signs and banners will also be prohibited under the new rules.
The mayor will give one warning to anyone whom he deems disruptive. If the person continues to disrupt, the mayor can have the person physically removed from the meeting. People hooking into the meeting remotely who are judged disruptive will be muted and their video feed turned off.
The new rules have been ridiculed by residents of Fairfax on social media outlets.
Fairfax’s “is now going to officially ban clapping?” one person wrote, adding that the “rogue” Town Council is again “packing 15 items onto the Consent Calendar and allowing only 2 minutes to publicly discuss.” That means “you’ll have 8 seconds to speak on each item.”
The proposed new law bans placards, but was silent on pins or badges often worn by groups supporting one cause or another. It was also silent on the wearing of t-shirts advocating for positions.
The town’s Council meetings have become increasingly contentious over the last year following the passage of a controversial rent control ordinance. At the last Town Council meeting – a special meeting called to make sweeping changes to the town’s zoning laws – about 12 people spoke and were limited to 2 minutes each. Several speakers complained it wasn’t enough time to discuss such an important topic.
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