The Mayor and Council will send a letter to the Worcester County Commissioners seeking reconsideration of allowing public comments at meetings.
At the end of the regular April 15 council meetin, during which an Ocean City resident sought the council’s help in contacting the Worcester County Commissioners regarding his tax bill, the elected body agreed to send a letter asking the commissioners to reconsider instituting a public comment period during their meetings. While the commissioners earlier this year voted down a motion to incorporate public comment into their meetings, Mayor Rick Meehan said it should be revisited.
“I think we all agree – and I think most people do – that the county commissioners should allow public comment at their meeting,” he said. “They’re the only body that I can think of, really, that doesn’t have any public comment allowed.”
Earlier this month, Ocean City resident John Adkins came before the council during a public comment period to share his concerns regarding his tax bill. At that time, the mayor suggested he reach out to the county commissioners.
Back before the council this week, Adkins said he had called the county and had heard no response. He said he also took issue with the fact that the commissioners did not offer a public comment period during meetings.
“The reason I’m here tonight is I want this council or city manager to write the county and I want to be put on their list of things to talk about because I feel I have the right to tell the county about my tax bill,” he said.