Can school board member speak during the citizen's comment section?
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Can a school board member leave the board table and speak during the citizen comments section? What kind of legal issues might this create for the board?
Dear Nancy,
This indeed is very odd. I truly am puzzled. Did the board prevent the person from speaking to the issues and that is why he stepped down to speak during the citizen comment period? Did he speak as a "citizen" or "board member?" I recommend that you consult with your attorney about this. However, from another point of view, the school board member is a citizen, too. So the question that needs to be answered is: can a person's right as a citizen be taken away because he elected to the school board? I have no answer to this one.
Cheerio!
Little Ben
Question submitted by Nancy on March 16, 2013