Washington Twp. Council President Enforces Strict 'Five Minute' Rule

Residents at recent Washington Township Council meetings have been critical of Council President Steve Cascio's decision to limit everyone — including the council members and mayor — to just five minutes when speaking during public sessions.

Township ordinance states that "unless further time is granted by the Council, [the speaker] shall limit his statements to five minutes."

Several residents, including Republican council nominee Peter Calamari, said at a meeting last week that they believed residents should be given more time after one speaker, Peter Mayer, attempted to continue speaking beyond the five-minute limit.

At another meeting this week, another resident, Ray Bernroth, said he supported the limit but believed an extension of one minute would be acceptable. Bernroth recalled a meeting last year when one resident spoke for "30 minutes."

"He should have been cut off, and he wasn't," Bernroth said.

Members of the council were divided on the issue. Councilman Richard Hrbek, who was council president last year, said he "felt it was important" to let people talk.

"This is their chance to participate," he said.

Cascio said he wanted to limit everyone to five limits because the rule could then not be used arbitrarily.

"Everyone has a chance to come back next time," he said.

Councilman Glenn Beckmeyer said he believed the five-minute limit should be enforced to keep the meetings moving along, but residents should be allowed to continue if no one else wants to speak and the public session did not last long.

"If we let someone talk for another 30 seconds, it's not going to be that big a deal," he said.

How much time should residents have to speak at public meetings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.