Public Participation Policy

Borough of Hummelstown

Public Participation Policies & Procedures

08/26/2026

Hummelstown Borough Council shall include one (1) period of General Public Participation and Participation Relating To Agenda Items at the outset of each public meeting prior to any presentations, discussions, action items, votes, etc. on any agenda items. This Public Participation shall be open to all topics which Public Participation speakers wish to cover and also be the opportunity for Public Participation for any specific agenda item for that meeting.

Public Participation shall follow these following procedures:

A.) Public Participation shall be limited to:

    (1.) residents of Hummelstown Borough,

    (2.) business owners who have a physical location within Hummelstown Borough,

    (3.) property owners of property located within Hummelstown Borough, and/or

    (4.) any representative or volunteer of a non-profit or emergency services provider located within or serving the overall Borough of Hummelstown.

B.) Those wishing to speak during any Public Participation period shall fill out a card prior to speaking listing their name, business name (if applicable), and address within Hummelstown Borough.

C.) Speakers during Public Participation shall speak from the lectern using the microphone at such time as they are recognized by the President of Borough Council (or presiding officer). All speakers shall precede comments by stating their name, business name (if applicable), and address – along with identifying specific agenda item being addressed if applicable – prior to commencing with their public statement or comment and prior to the time allotted starting.

D.) Speakers during Public Participation shall address and direct their statement or comment to the President of Borough Council or presiding officer of the meeting.

E.) Speakers during Public Participation shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration.

F.) Public Participation shall not be a time of “question and answer” or a “back-and-forth”. Speakers shall refrain from directing statements or comments to others in attendance at the meeting or meeting participants. The President of Borough Council (or presiding officer of the meeting) shall maintain decorum and conduct the meeting so as to allow each speaker to fully utilized their allotted time for speaking without interruption or disruption.

G.) Audience outburst, speaking out overtop one another or when not recognized by the President of Borough Council (or presiding officer of the meeting), vulgar and threatening language, or not adhering to these policies and procedures, general decorum, and civility will not be tolerated in any form whether by speakers during Public Participation, audience members, or meeting participants. H.) Speakers during Public Participation are reminded that all public meetings are being recorded for the purposes of aiding with note-taking and composing meeting minutes.