The amount of time the membership is given to speak at community club board of directors monthly meetings got a testy challenge in June.
Maybe it’s time for the board to clearly explain the rule.
Here’s what happened:
The meeting ended abruptly after property owner Nico CearGeo refused to stop speaking when he was told repeatedly his maximum time of three minutes had expired. (Board Vice President Scott Hartema, who kept the clock, even gave him a one-minute warning.)
CearGeo continued reading from his statement, which centered on the declarant’s planned St. George Village, even after the directors broke in and adjourned the meeting.
A side note but perhaps relevant: Earlier at this same meeting, President Greg Jones called out CearGeo — Jones’ words, not mine — for sponsoring billboard messages that Jones said put Fairfield Glade in a negative light and hurt real estate sales.
CearGeo refused to stop speaking because, he noted to Hartema, two other property owners at this meeting were before the board well beyond three minutes.
Both property owners questioned the board on multiple issues, one taking 10 minutes and 46 seconds and the other 6:47.
That raises the question of whether the rule is being applied equally and fairly.
Good question. The answer might not be as obvious as it seems.
Some people who go before the board make brief comments and ask a question or two. They don’t actually speak for three minutes. But responses from board members and resulting conversations with the questioners might push the times beyond that.
That didn’t happen with CearGeo; he spoke continually until Hartema informed him his three minutes were up.
So is the rule a maximum of three minutes of speaking time?
Good question.
What if a property owner steps up to the microphone multiple times during one meeting as some do? Do they get three minutes each time?
Good question.
Some people in recent months have commented and asked questions for as long as 10 minutes – even longer – in one sitting at the microphone. The issue of the sewer availability policy comes to mind.
So then are people given more than three minutes depending on the issue? Is it reasonable for the board to be so flexible?
More good questions.
Property owners need the answers so they know what to expect when they approach the board.
Going only by the clock, the three-minute rule is not being applied equally. Some are allowed to speak beyond that; others are cut off.
But is it being applied fairly?
Good question.
We just don’t know because we don’t know its specifics — if there are any.
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Keith Robinson is a Glade Sun correspondent who reports on Fairfield Glade Community Club and other matters in the community.