Time Limits at Town Hall

Watching the confirmation hearing this week for William Barr as attorney general, we were struck that for the most part the senators stuck to their four-minute limits, often making note of the remaining seconds. This is in particular contrast to regularly held hearings in East Hampton Town Hall, where the three-minute countdown clock for individual speakers is mostly ignored. We have an idea that might help.

It is in the interest of comity for the town board to allow those members of the public who care to address it in person a little latitude on time. However, there are some individuals whose, shall we say, abiding interest in civic engagement compels them to rise and make comments on just about everything that comes up. For this, we have two words: poker chips.

Each person who plans to speak at a meeting of the town board would be handed two or three chips at the outset, redeemable each time they approach the microphone. When one’s chips were used up, he or she would have to find another way to express opinions, for example, in a protest march, or Facebook hoo-rah, or, yes, in a letter to the editor of The Star. Chips, of course, could not be shared with another person nor hoarded for the next meeting.

If the United States Senate can mind the minutes and maintain good order, so too can East Hampton Town Hall, one would think. It’s chips or find money in the budget to buy Town Clerk Carole Brennan a huge metal gong. Now that’s something we really would like to see.