Pierre Chagnon, R-Bemus Point and chairman of the Chautauqua County Legislature, is pictured at right speaking to Dalton Anthony, Bob Scudder and Lisa Vanstrom, members of the legislature’s Administrative Services Committee pictured at left, regarding a proposed change to public comment during legislature meetings.

There will be no change to the second privilege of the floor at Chautauqua County Legislature.

Members of the legislature’s Administrative Services Committee voted on Tuesday to postpone the resolution indefinitely, effectively killing it. Committee members unanimously approved the postponement.

In January, county lawmakers had a resolution before them to amend the rules and regulations of the legislature, for the second privilege of the floor, which would only allow members of the public to address the legislature on items over which the local body has authority. Legislators Vince DeJoy, D-Jamestown, and Tom Nelson, D-Jamestown, spoke against the proposed change.

“It’s my firm belief that this legislature should think long and hard before restricting open and free speech,” DeJoy said. “I think uh it upholds core democratic principles by allowing the public to speak because local government exists to serve the people, not just to conduct procedural business. Allowing open comments affirms that every resident has a voice not only to those who fit neatly within agenda categories. And democracy is strongest when government listens, as Legislator Nelson mentioned, even to uncomfortable or unconventional perspectives. It builds public trust and transparency. Restricting speech can create the perception that officials only want to hear supportive or convenient viewpoints. Open privilege of the floor signals that the legislature is confident, transparent, and accountable to the people.”

Pierre Chagnon, R-Bemus Point and legislature chairman, said he examined public comment at legislative bodies around the state and found there is little consensus on how they’re handled. After reviewing the research and talking with several people, Chagnon recommended the indefinite postponement of the resolution.

“So, stepping back from this, the legislator who proposed this resolution and who drafted the resolution didn’t speak to it at the legislature meeting last month and has not come here tonight to speak to it and has not spoken to me about it. Talking to other people, I get the impression that enough comments and concerns have been raised regarding freedom of speech and about erecting barriers or impediments that my recommendation to the committee this evening is that you postpone this resolution indefinitely. If you postpone it indefinitely, that will serve to kill the resolution.”

That means the status quo will remain. The Chautauqua County Legislature has two opportunities at each meeting for the public to speak. At the beginning of the meeting, members of the public may comment on any subject relating to any local law, resolution or motion appearing on the agenda. At the end of the meeting members of the public may comment on any subject without restrictions. Individuals are given three minutes to speak, while individuals representing a group may speak for five minutes.

Legislator Bob Scudder, D-Fredonia, said he would have voted against the change had it come to the legislature for a vote while noting some meetings can go until midnight as people speak before the legislature.

“I just get concerned that they don’t realize and don’t hear what I’m not saying here, but sometimes I don’t feel we’re the body that should be addressed with the concerns that they have,” Scudder said before ending his remarks. “With that being said, I’ll sit here all night. I signed up for the job and I’m not saying anybody else feels different than this. This is just how I feel. So, I am all in favor of Pierre’s recommendation. And if it was going to come to a vote, I was just going to vote no. But we can do the (postponement). I like that idea.”