Meeting Proceeders – Resolution no. 6 of 2-26
To help ensure respectful, organized, and productive public meetings, the Upper Bern Township Board of Supervisors has adopted the following procedures governing public comment and meeting conduct.
TOWNSHIP OF UPPER BERN
COUNTY OF BERKS
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
RESOLUTION NO. 6 OF 2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF UPPER BERN TOWNSHIP, BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, TO PERMIT AND REGULATE PUBLIC COMMENT AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Upper Bern Township (the “Board”), in lawful session duly assembled that:
Section 1:
Any member of the public who wishes to comment at meetings of the Board shall be afforded such right or privilege consistent with the following regulations for the conduct of the meeting and maintenance of order.
a. Each person shall note the person’s intent to speak on the appropriate sign-in sheet and will be recognized by the chair of the meeting from that sign-in sheet when it is time to speak.
b. Comments may be limited to only residents and taxpayers of Upper Bern Township, Berks County, at the discretion of the Board.
c. Each person making comment shall state the person’s name and address, or group they are representing, and the specific subject of the comment.
d. Comments during the comment period for agenda items shall be limited to only agenda items, unless otherwise permitted by the chair of the meeting.
e. Oral comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per topic, unless extended by the chair of the meeting.
f. Every person shall abide by the directive of the chair of the meeting with respect to maintenance of order and conduct of the meeting, and shall comment only after being recognized by the chair of the meeting.
g. All comments shall be made in a respectful manner without obscenity or threat. Comments shall not contain personal attacks or become arguments between people in attendance at the meeting.
h. All comments shall be directed to the chair of the meeting who may or may not refer them to another Supervisor for comment. The chair of the meeting may rule out-of-order scandalous, impertinent and redundant comments, or comments for discernible purpose or the effect of which is to disrupt the proceedings of the meeting.
i. If the chair of the meeting determines that there is not sufficient time at a meeting for residents or taxpayers of the Township to comment, the chair of the meeting may defer the comment period to the next regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring in advance of the next regular meeting. Except as otherwise precluded by law, such deferral does not preclude the Board from officially deliberating or acting upon matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the Board.
j. Anyone wishing to use audio, video, or stenographic recorders to record a meeting shall announce the person’s intention to do so prior to the meeting.
i. All video recording equipment shall be stationed in the rear of the meeting room or along the wall or other such location designated by the chair of the meeting so as not to obstruct the view of any audience member.
ii. Supplementary lighting devices shall not be used.
iii. Audio and stenographic recording devices shall be operated in the general public seating area and may not be placed on the Supervisors’ table without prior consent of the chair of the meeting.
iv. Those using recording equipment must refrain from moving about the room with the equipment during the meeting.
Section 2:
This Resolution shall take effect immediately.
DULY ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of Upper Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in lawful session duly assembled, the 12th day of March, 2026, by a vote of 3 to 0.