Public Input Welcome At City Meetings

The City of Hamilton said that starting this Wednesday [Oct.5] members of the public will be given an opportunity to make a statement or ask questions at the start of each monthly public meeting.

Chief Operating Officer and Secretary to the City of Hamilton, Mr. Edward Benevides commented, “On behalf of the Members of the City of Hamilton, I am pleased to announce that at all future public meetings the general public is invited to ask questions and make brief presentations to the Council.”

“Our goal is to further encourage public participation during our monthly meetings in order to hear individual’s views on issues important to them. We look forward to listening to all members of our community, not just Hamilton residents and business owners. Having said that, the submission or questions must be about the City specifically.”

Mr. Benevides continued, “Guidelines have been put in place to ensure the process is fair to all who want to participate. Full details of the rules can be found on our website at www.cityofhamilton.bm/meetings. They include, but are not limited to:

• Public participation will be an agenda item at every Council meeting. Members of the press and public may be excluded by resolution, for example, at any Council meeting where personnel or contract matters are on the agenda.

• Public participation provides an opportunity to ask questions or make brief representations. Although it is preferable for questions or details of the representation to be submitted to the Secretary prior to the relevant meeting, this is not a requirement.

• Public participation will take place during an early stage in the meeting as dictated by the agenda. The time allowed for public participation will normally be 15 minutes in total. This could be varied at the discretion of the Mayor with the consent of the meeting.”

Mr. Benevides concluded, “We look forward hearing from members of the Bermuda community at the next meeting which takes place on Wednesday October 5 starting at 12:30pm in the Mayor’s Parlour in City Hall.”

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