PORT JERVIS, NY — After Mayor Kelly Decker changed the format for the city council meetings, many residents expressed concern over freedom of speech, some bringing up First Amendment rights. Decker’s new format cut public comment time, making some feel their rights had been trampled on.

The three-minute public comment was still at the beginning of each meeting, but with a new requirement to leave name, phone number and email address in writing so the relevant council members or committees could get back with the response, while the end-of-meeting public comment had been cut. Toward the end of the meeting, after hearing comments from both residents and council members, Decker agreed to the second public-comment section at the end of the meetings.

One of the commentators asked, “What are you afraid of that people shouldn’t see? I don’t understand why we can’t continue as we have.” Accountability of people in the council was an issue, and the speaker found it very discouraging.

Councilwoman Gina Fitzpatrick and Councilman Regis Foster said public comment should be added to the end, and that people could also come to talk to the council members. Councilwoman Maria Mann said she felt public comment at the end should remain as part of the city council meetings: “We’re all committed to listen and to meet your concerns.”

Councilwoman Kristin Trovei agreed, saying, “I do believe in public comment; it’s an important part of the process.” She added it was a good way to learn of concerns and also to get the information back to the person who asked. She also encouraged people to attend the meetings, or to contact their council member in person.

Decker spoke at length about the issue, “My decision is simply to make it businesslike, as it was meant to be, with the right to comment by public before the council votes, to focus on work for the council.”

He addressed the First Amendment issue, saying he thought the public didn’t really understand it, and that the government could limit it at meetings. He added that the Constitution itself was written behind closed doors, and that there are no provisions mandating public comment.

In order to eliminate wasted time, after listening to council and public, he agreed to the three minutes at the end of meeting. He said, “ We can’t have eight minutes; it’s too long.” Business reporting was also streamlined, with Decker instructing council members that if there were nothing to report on a committee, they didn’t have report on it.

City calendar, minutes and agendas all go up on the website, and Decker emails to the council members all this information before meetings.

In other business, a city parking lot came under discussion, with Sen. John Bonacic offering funding. The motion to accept the $36,000 grant was carried. Bonacic also has agreed to secure funding for the paving of the road to Point Peter.

Decker said people come from all over for bike races on Point Peter, giving the city publicity. “They camp up there, eat at the restaurants, come here and spend money for the whole weekend. Biking magazine mentions it,” he said.