THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 8, 1995 TAG: 9508080272
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
For the past nine meetings of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, 82-year-old Capt. Hiram Gallop of Wanchese has risen during the public comment period to speak his mind.
But Gallop, who wants to change the name of a road, and others who want to speak during the commission's public comment period soon may find it harder to have their say.
A proposal discussed at Monday's meeting of the Board of Commissioners would place time and subject restrictions on citizens wishing to address the board.
However, Commissioner Shirley Hassell criticized attempts to limit public comment.
``This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard,'' she said. ``We are elected by the people. They are entitled to come up for their piddly three minutes and talk about anything they want. This is their meeting.''
Currently, members of the public can address the commission on any subject during a period set aside early in the agenda. Gallop often discusses a dispute with a neighbor, and accuses the commission of corruption. Sometimes he talks for more than 15 minutes.
``I don't put nothing past that gang,'' he said after the meeting. ``They violated the law three times and I can prove it.''
He said he would continue to sound off in front of the commission.
``I've been all over the world as a master seaman and fought in three wars,'' said Gallop, who twice was an unsuccessful candidate for the commission. ``I've never seen anything to beat that bunch in my life.''
Commissioner Doug Langford initially offered a proposal that would require public comments to deal only with items on that day's agenda, or the agenda of the preceding meeting.
He said his proposal was not aimed at anyone in particular. Langford later withdrew his motion. However, Dare County Commission Chairman Robert V. ``Bobby'' Owens appointed a committee to study a possible change in the public comment system.
Langford said he suggested the change in an effort to stop abuses of the comment period. He said some were using the allotted time to further individual political agendas.
``This is not an attempt to stifle the public's ability to discuss matters that are pertinent to the agenda before the board. We need to look at giving some structure to the public comment period. In my view, we should stick to the agenda.'' by CNB