How do we apply to speak in front of Council, how does the decision get made, what is expected?

The steps of applying

A written letter or email asking to speak at a Regular Council Meeting must be sent into the CAO.  

The letter or email, needs to arrive 7 days before the scheduled Council Meeting within office hours.

The letter or email, must state that the Speaker would like to speak at which identified Council Meeting. 

The letter or email needs to, in detail, cover what the needs or wants of the Speaker are and would like to have discussed. The letter must not be libelous, impertinent or improper.

The letter must also be signed, dated and must contain the speakers address.

How the decision is made of who gets to speak at Council Meetings.

Once the letter provided to the CAO has met the expectations listed. The CAO will attach the letter to Councils Information Package. 

If the Speaker is looking to speak on a matter that has formerly been discussed, debated and voted on (within the past 6 months) from the chosen Council Date, the Speaker may be denied. 

However, if two-thirds of Council vote to discuss the matters presented by the Speaker before the 6 month window, they will vote to do so.

What might happen at the Council Meeting

During the opening of Council Meetings.

Council will cover the Agenda for the current Council Meeting. At this time, they may choose to removed a Delegate (Speaker) from the current meetings Agenda.

If the proper information was not provided in the letter or email, or if Council decides to vote against speaking on a formerly discussed matter. The Delegate's (Speakers) name will be stricken from the Agendas Meeting Minutes.

If a Delegate (Speaker) askes before the Council Meeting starts to be rescheduled, it is also discussed at this time and they will be struck from the Meeting Agenda as well. 

Speaker Participation

Villager who have applied to speak at a Regular Council Meeting, are given a 15 minute window being able to discuss what they have presented to Council, in their written application to the CAO. Any variations from the outlined subject matter will be disregarded if not related.

The Speaker will be asked to continue on their topic. If they cannot conduct themselves in an appropriate manner, they will be asked to step down. 

The 15 minute period if used as a "question and answer session", will be paused as Council answers any questions asked. Then the Speaker will have the floor turned back to them and the timer will resume.

If at anytime the Speaker chooses to disregard Proper Decorum they will be asked to correct their behavior, then asked to step down, or they will be directed to leave.