ACLU Sends Action Alert for Public Comment Period at Fargo City Commission Meetings

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota has issued an action alert inviting members of the community to write The Fargo City Commission, urging that the Commission continue to allow public comment at its meetings.

The alert comes in response to a City Commission meeting on March 5th, where a proposal was presented that would restructure the way the public comment period is done in these meetings.

Under the proposal, comments at the beginning of the meeting would be restricted to topics on that meeting’s agenda, with a separate period for comments on general topics at the end of the meeting.

During the meeting Fargo City Administrator Michael Redlinger said he had “received some feedback” suggesting the removal of the public comment period altogether, instead replacing it with a non-voting town hall meeting.

The ACLU says that while town halls can help, the ability to speak at City Commission meetings is still important.

“Their meetings should be a place, in the time-honored tradition of democracy in America, to show up at the town hall, and be able to speak one’s piece directly to the people that elected them,” ACLU-ND Advocacy Manager Cody Schuler said.

Commissioner John Strand was strongly opposed to eliminating public comment. He stated that while he was not familiar with the action alert, it was another example of peoples desire to engage with the commission.

Mayor Tim Mahoney, declined to comment on the alert, but said the current policy regarding public comments will remain in place until the commission revisits the proposed policy changes early next month.

The ACLU is encouraging residents to make their opinions heard at the next City Commission meeting on March 18th.