05/09/2025
Mount Pleasant Tribune 📰 May 7, 2025:
During a regular meeting on Monday, April 28, the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWD) approved a policy change in regards to public comments during their board meetings, dictating that the board will not tolerate any disruption or comments outside of public comments and that there will be an allotted time limit during the public comments part of the meetings.
Interim General Manager Osiris Brantley read the policy change for the board and citizens, “The board will not tolerate the disruption of meetings by members of the audience. Visitors will refrain from engaging in chatter, private conversation, and from making other distracting noises such as clapping, booing, or otherwise audibly expressing approval or disapproval of speech from another person. Persons engaging in disruptive conduct may be removed from a meeting. Texas law makes it an offense to disrupt or hinder a public meeting by disorderly conduct, including noise and unruly behavior. Although the presiding officer may endeavor to provide a warning to persons who engage in disruptive conduct, the lack of a warning is not a defense to a prosecution under those laws.”
The new policy also says that the presiding officer may adjust the public comment procedures– including when public comment will occur during the meeting, adjusting the time allotted to each speaker, and establishing an overall time limit for public comments on matters that are not posted on the agenda.
Additionally, anyone who wants to participate during public comments must fill out a public comment registration form in-person and submit it to the appointed designee before the meeting begins.
In the policy, it also says that a 30-minute timer will be set for speakers wishing to address the board on non-agenda items or general comments. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes and if a translator is needed, twice the amount of time will be allotted to the speaker. The board may not discuss or act upon public comments, only listen. The policy also states that forms are not reserved for anyone, nor may a portion of a speaker’s allotted time be given, assigned, relinquished, or donated to another speaker.
The policy change comes amid a recent lawsuit filed against NETMWD on April 11, alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act. A hearing for the lawsuit is scheduled at the Morris County Courthouse, 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 15.
At this time, three directors on the board are up for re-appointment or replacement this month. Those seats would be for Daingerfield, Pittsburg, and Lone Star.
During a regular meeting on Monday, April 28, the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District (NETMWD) approved a policy change in regards to public comments during their board meetings, dictating that the board will not tolerate any disruption or comments outside of public comments and that there will...
