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POOLER, Ga. — In a bid to enhance accessibility, the Pooler City Council has decided to eliminate the in-person public comment period, a decision announced by Mayor Karen Williams on Thursday.
The move sparked widespread discussion on social media, with critics alleging that the mayor and council were attempting to suppress voter input.
Addressing the concerns, Mayor Williams stated in a Friday statement that this change does not impede residents from voicing their opinions on agenda items. The adjustment affects only the general public comment segment at the conclusion of meetings.
“It’s important to emphasize that this modification does not restrict residents from speaking during mandatory public hearings, nor does it eliminate public commentary on other agenda items,” Williams clarified. “This level of engagement exceeds what many municipalities offer, where comments are typically limited to public hearings only.”
The decision aims to accommodate those unable to attend city council meetings in person. Under the new system, Pooler residents can submit their comments online at any time, provided they are submitted at least 24 hours before the council meetings.
This is to allow council members to review and consider online public comments prior to meetings, Williams reported. Additionally, Williams said the comments will be sent to council members once a week whether a meeting is being held or not.
She also noted that under Georgia law, the city council is not required to have a general public comment period.
Read her full statement below:
“Our goal is to improve accessibility and increase participation for all Pooler residents, including those who may not be able to attend City Council meetings in person. Currently, we are not receiving full representation from all Pooler residents. To provide more access for residents, the City of Pooler has transitioned to a digital public comment system in place of the current end-of-agenda public comment period that I created at the beginning of my term and was not available previously.
Residents can now submit comments online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, not just every other week at council meetings. To ensure City Council members have adequate time to review and consider those comments before the council meetings, submissions must be received at least 24 hours in advance. After submitting your comment, residents will receive confirmation of their submission. Once a week, any comments received will be emailed to all council members, whether it is a council meeting week or not.
From reading comments on Facebook, there seems to be confusion that the City of Pooler is not going to allow residents to speak at council meetings. I want to make it clear that this change does not eliminate opportunities for residents to speak during required public hearings, nor does it remove public comment on other agenda items, which is a level of access that many municipalities do not provide, as most only allow comments on public hearings.
Under Georgia’s Open Meetings law, a general public comment period is not required, and agenda-setting authority rests with the mayor. This decision was made with the intent of creating a more accessible and organized process while continuing to ensure the public’s voice is heard.”
To Submit Public Comments, please go to Pooler-Ga.gov/PublicComment.”