THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Council meeting agendas have a “citizens to be heard” listing, along with other council business to be addressed.

Residents are given an opportunity to speak for three minutes at regular council meetings second and fourth Mondays of each month and at council workshops on Wednesdays prior to council meetings.

Some council members want the time increased.

At a Wednesday workshop, Mayor Greg Hobbs said residents should have a opportunity to speak. He said he is in favor of keeping the time at three minutes, later in the meeting saying maybe more time should be considered at workshops. 

“We need to give our citizens a chance to speak,” Hobbs said.

City Attorney Tim Sanders times speakers and announces when their time is near the end, then at the end of three minutes.

Hobbs added that to have different time limits at the two meetings might be confusing. A decision about speaker times should be made “sooner than later,” the mayor said.

“Not allowing people to speak is a step backwards,” said Council member David Hufstetler.

Hufstetler said he is satisfied with the three-minute limit, but does not oppose a little more time.

Council member Wanda Warren wants time increased from three to five minutes at regular council meetings and at workshops.

Everyone should be allowed to speak, Council member Jay Flowers said. 

“The current three-minute limit seems to be sufficient for just about everyone that comes before the council,” he added.

At-large Council member Todd Mobley has talked to other governing boards about their time limits for speakers at meetings.

“It’s three minutes,” he told the council Wednesday.

April Hampton and Lucinda Brown, citizen speakers at the workshop, told council members more speaker time is needed at meetings.

Sanders told council members they might want to consider a resolution specifying lengths of time for speakers at regular council meetings and workshops. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820