The Board recognizes the value to township governance of public comment on township issues and the importance of involving members of the public in its meetings and those of other township boards and commissions.
In order to permit fair and orderly expression of such comment, the Board or a committee thereof or a commission will provide a period for public participation at their open meetings during which official action may be taken.
The presiding officer at each such public meeting will follow the rules of the Board for conduct of public meetings and in accordance with the rules set forth in this policy on public participation.
The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:
A. 
Public participation shall be permitted at the discretion of the presiding officer on a given issue.
B. 
The Board or a committee thereof or a commission requires that public participants be residents of the township or:
(1) 
Anyone having registered a legitimate interest in a contemplated action of the Board or a committee thereof or a commission.
(2) 
Anyone representing a group in the community.
(3) 
Any representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the Board.
(4) 
Any employee of the township.
(5) 
The official representative of another municipality or council of government.
C. 
All persons wishing to participate in such a public meeting shall sign the book provided in the meeting room prior to the start of the meeting. At the option of the presiding officer, other persons may be recognized at the end of the meeting.
D. 
Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address and group affiliation, if appropriate.
(1) 
All participants shall come forward and speak into the microphone.
(2) 
Each statement by a participant shall be limited to no more than five minutes' duration.
(3) 
No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
(4) 
All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer. No participants may address or question the Board's or a committee's or commission's members individually.
(5) 
The presiding officer may:
(a) 
Interrupt or terminate a participant's statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, obscene or irrelevant.
(b) 
Request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum.
(c) 
Request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting.
(d) 
Call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action.
(e) 
Waive these rules with the approval of the Board.
E. 
The portion of the meeting during which the participation of the public is invited shall be limited to 30 minutes, subject to adjustment at the discretion of the presiding officer.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F. 
Electronic recording devices and cameras other than those used as official recording devices will be permitted at public meetings as long as they do not detract from the decorum of the meeting or interfere with the deliberations of the Board or a committee thereof or a commission.
G. 
No placards or banners will be permitted within the meeting room or on township grounds without prior approval.
H. 
A copy of the meeting agenda will be displayed in the meeting room and on the Township's website.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]