Code of Conduct for Town of Cleveland meetings
WHEREAS, the WISCONSIN OPEN MEETING LAWS give members of the public the right to attend
meetings of public bodies but does not give the public the right to speak or otherwise participate at
those meetings, except at public hearings and under other limited circumstances, and;
WHEREAS, the WISCONSIN TOWN LAWS authorize a town board to enact rules and regulations
regarding the conduct of public meetings and public hearings conducted by the town board, and the
WISCONSIN LAWS agree that a public body can adopt reasonable rules that treat members of the public
equally, and;
WHEREAS, that any such rules could serve as a basis for preventing verbal interruptions, shouting or
other outbursts, as well as slanderous or obscene language or signs, and that a town board can regulate
actions of its members and of the public attending meetings so as not to interfere with meetings or
prevent others in attendance from observing or hearing the deliberative process, and;
WHEREAS, a town board has a responsibility to insure that everyone has the right to participate in a
public hearing and therefore can reasonably limit the length and general nature of public comments to
the subject of the public hearing and to limit the expression of facts and opinions to one occurrence of
such facts or opinions, so as not to go over and over the same things, so that a town board can consider
various points of view, and
WHEREAS, a town board can limit other comments from the public at town board meetings to a specific
time set in the agenda for public participation and comment, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board finds that public input during the agenda portions of the meeting can many
times aid in making realistic decisions for the Township, at the discretion of the Town board and Town
Chair.
NOW, therefore, be it resolved by the Town Board of the Town of Cleveland hereby adopt the following
rules for public participation AND Town Supervisor decorum at meetings of the Town Board:
- Except for public hearings as required by the Laws of the State of Wisconsin, public participation at
meetings of the Town Board shall be limited to the public participation segment of the agenda of Town
Board meetings, and such portions where public input is requested by the Town Supervisors, and, - Public comment, whether during the public participation segment of the Town Board meeting or
during a duly designated public hearing, shall be limited to three minutes per person. An individual’s
time may not be given or traded to other speakers or reserved for other portions of the meeting. - Any person wishing to speak at a public meeting during the public participation segment or during a
public hearing must sign in upon entering the room, when such sign-in sheet is available, indicating his
or her intention to speak, which sheet will be used by the Town Chair or designated meeting facilitator
to recognize speakers. - Any individual wishing to speak during the public participation segment or during a public hearing;
when a sign-in sheet is not available, shall raise his or her hand. When recognized by the Town Chair or
meeting facilitator, the individual must come to the front of the room, state his or her name and, if
appropriate, group affiliation, and must state the subject he or she will be addressing. - Comments must relate to the purpose of the public hearing or to legitimate town business.
- The Town Chair or designated facilitator shall act as timekeeper or shall designate another elected
official as timekeeper. - Members of the Town Board, speakers, and audience members must observe proper decorum. Any
statements made during the meeting or during a public hearing by the Supervisors, town officials or
employees, or members of the general public shall not involve personal, impertinent, or slanderous
attacks on individuals, regardless of whether the individual so attacked is an elected official, a town
official or employee, or a member of the general public. - The Town Chair or a facilitator designated by the Chair shall control the meeting. The use of profane,
vulgar, inflammatory, threatening, abusive, or disparaging language or racial or ethnic slurs directed at
the Supervisor, members of the Town Board, town officials or employees, and members of the general
public, shall not be tolerated. - It is inappropriate to utilize a public meeting for the purpose of making political speeches, including
threats of political action, and the same will not be allowed. - Comments by speakers must be addressed to the Town Board. Attendees may not address the
Town Board unless recognized by the Town Chair. - Discussion between speakers and attendees of the public meeting or hearing are prohibited. A
speaker may disagree with or support prior speakers in comments directed to the Town Board. Re-
statement of comments is not allowed. - Banners, flyers or other signs are not permitted in the meeting room; distribution of flyers in the
meeting room is also prohibited. - Any person who disregards the directives of the Town Chair or designated facilitator in enforcing the
rules, or who generally conducts himself or herself in a boisterous or inappropriate manner while the
meeting is in session, or otherwise disturbs the peace at a meeting, will be declared out of order.
Continued action that is out of order subjects the violator to removal from the meeting, per State Law. - The above rules shall take effect immediately after the adoption of these rules.