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Encourage civility at meetings, but leave it at that

By JEFF WEBB
Published November 6, 2005

Last summer, Hernando County Administrator Gary Adams visited the Sarasota County Commission. He was impressed by how orderly the meeting ran, and how well-mannered and courteous residents, staff and the commissioners were. He later found that the county has a guide to good behavior called the "Civility Code."

Adams brought back a copy and briefly considered presenting it to the commission here, but decided against doing so because he did not think it would be well-received.

He had good reason to think that. After all, these same commissioners shot down a proposal he made, his very first after taking the job in June 2004, about changing the way the board conducted its business meetings. That recommendation would have required residents to write down the topic of their concern before speaking during the "citizens' input" segment of the board's weekly meeting. Adams' intent was to give his staff an opportunity to address problems sooner and to try to persuade speakers to limit their comments to items relevant to that day's agenda.

It was a reasonable idea that would have saved the commission and the public precious time. But the commissioners turned down Adams, fearing constituents would view it as an attempt to impinge free speech.

Given that such an innocuous procedural change failed, it is no wonder Adams balked at asking the commission to adopt a civility code.

But now that Adams has announced his resignation, he no longer needs to worry whether his proposals pass or fail. So, along with a few other observations he made about topics the commissioners need to contemplate, he brought up the civility code at a meeting last week.

Two commissioners were all for it and wanted to adopt it right away; the other three reserved judgment, but agreed to discuss it in more detail on Nov. 15.

Good. It should be debated.

Again.

That's right. This same issue - in fact, this identical civility code - was the topic of an extended debate by the commission in the fall of 2001. Back then, it was former County Administrator Paul McIntosh who presented Sarasota County's code to the commission. Commissioners Diane Rowden and Mary Aiken voted for it. Commissioners Nancy Robinson, Chris Kingsley and the late Betty Whitehouse voted against it.

The majority reasoned that a civility code served no real purpose, and that maintaining order and decorum was a job the chairman should be able to handle without an instruction manual.

When the commissioners, three of whom were on the board in 2001, revisit the issue on Nov. 15, the outcome is likely to be the same.

The intent of a civility code is commendable. It sets a professional standard and tone for conducting the public's business. The commission should liberally distribute copies of it in the commission chambers, on its Web site, on its weekly agendas, on its television channel and anywhere else the public might view it.

That said, what should be done with someone who violates the code?

Is it really necessary to have an armed law enforcement officer escort a resident from the meeting room because he forgot to turn off his cell phone?

Should the commission chairman shout down a retiree who wants to talk about something that is not on that day's agenda? Or who expresses agreement with another speaker by clapping?

And - this is the sticky one - how does the chairman decide when a speaker has crossed the line from legitimate criticism to insolence?

Sure, it's a no-brainer if the person curses or threatens. No one will care if the chairman shuts 'em up and tosses 'em out. By becoming a disruption they gave up their privilege to be heard.

But what if a speaker says, in a calm voice and with all due sincerity and eloquence, "Your actions today lead me to believe that you are incapable of the most fundamental tasks of policymaking. Your decisions are illogical, shortsighted and uncaring. I don't like you and I will work hard to see that you lose the next election."

Is that, as the proposed civility code outlaws , a "personal attack?" Is it "abusive language?" How about "redundant?"

The answer to that probably depends on whether you agree. At best, it's a subjective endeavor.

Common sense and good manners should dictate all rules regarding public behavior, including government meetings. The commission chairman must be fair and firm, and that goes for impolite conduct by other commissioners.

A civility code has standing as an educational tool, but should not be misused to censor or punish, except in the most egregious cases.

Copy the code, post it where people will see it, and instruct the chairman to refer to it as often as needed. The vast majority of people will comply.

But leave it at that. The board has much more important work than to immerse itself in a free speech debate.

Jeff Webb can be reached at 352 754-6123 or webb@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 01:59:22]