Washtenaw County commissioners were considering, as of Oct. 8, new limits on who can speak at board meetings and for how long, a proposal that has drawn disagreement from some on the nine-member board.

The changes would target the initial public comment period. They include a 60-minute overall time cap, a rule restricting speakers to county residents and a provision limiting remarks to agenda items, WEMU reported Thursday, Oct. 8. It is not clear from WEMU’s report whether the three measures would apply together or are separate options under consideration.

A second, open public comment period would be added at the end of each meeting agenda, according to WEMU.

The push comes after marathon meetings involving lengthy public participation, WEMU reported. Scott, who represents District 9, said making spending decisions at 2 a.m. does not help democracy.

"It also doesn't help democracy to be making resolutions where we are spending millions of dollars at 2:00 in the morning," Scott told WEMU.

Scott said she values public input but stressed that commissioners "are here to do business." Some commissioners prefer not to add new constraints, according to WEMU's reporting, though the report did not name them.

The board discussed potential rule changes at its Sept. 16 meeting, according to a newsletter by former Ann Arbor Council Member Elizabeth Nelson.

Under current rules, speakers at the board's working sessions get one minute each. At the full board meeting that follows, they get three minutes, according to the county’s meetings page.

WEMU reported Oct. 8 that nothing had been finalized.

The Oct. 7 agenda lists the next regular board meeting for Wednesday, Oct. 21. The county’s meeting schedule lists regular board meetings at 7 p.m. at 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Residents can also attend meetings via Zoom through the county's website.