Public comment
Opinion: Pa. public-comment ruling could have unintended results
November 29, 2010 |
As a long-time advocate for open government, I
applaud the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision
in Alekseev v.
City Council of the City of
Philadelphia. As a former school board
president, however, I see why some might
find it a bit naive. Read
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Opinion: Let the people speak
November 29, 2010 |
Who knew that all that "We the people" stuff
could be so easily forgotten just a few blocks
from where it started? Thanks to a recent court
ruling, Philadelphia's commoners will now have an
opportunity to speak at regular meetings of the
City Council. But it took nothing less than the
highest court in the Commonwealth - overruling
more than a half-century of backward practice,
two lower courts, and a dissent by three of its
seven justices (including the court's two
Philadelphians, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille
and Justice Seamus P. McCaffery) - to bring this
revolutionary concept into our own house of
lords. Read
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Court strikes down Phila. council comment practice
November 18, 2010 |
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Philadelphia City
Council must allow direct public comment on
matters under its consideration and may not
simply divert those comments to committee
meetings, a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court
ruled. Read
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Easton Area backs off public comment ban
September 23, 2010 |
The Easton Area School Board sidestepped a
growing firestorm lit last week when it banned
public comment at workshop meetings by scrapping
the workshops and reinstating several committees
that will welcome public input. The unanimous
decision to return to the committees — a format
used in the past to discuss items such as
finance, policy and buildings and grounds — came
as community members mobilized to challenge the
public comment ban should the board not change
course. Read
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Public comment period eliminated from Easton Area School Board workshop meetings
September 16, 2010 |
In what the school board describes as a
time-saving measure, public comments will no
longer be allowed at Easton Area School Board
workshop meetings. Read
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Blawnox borough balks at further revamping public address rules
September 12, 2010 |
Blawnox Borough will not change its audio and
videotaping rules as it faces probable legal
action from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Read
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