The following article was published in the July 2025 edition of dcDIGEST:
Local government is where democracy starts. In our towns and villages, our elected leaders are within reach—and we like it that way. At a town council meeting, we can hear first-hand about plans and problems. But democracy is participatory. We listen to our elected reps, but do they listen to us?
To find out, we checked in with neighbors from nine DelCo towns about public meetings and here’s what we learned: democracy is alive and well on the very local level. The “privilege of the floor” is open to the public at town meetings in Bovina, Colchester, Franklin, Hancock, Meredith, Roxbury, Sidney, Stamford and Walton, and every one of our citizen-reporters thinks the practice is working well.
Policies differ. Franklin allows public comments at the end of the meeting, similar to Bovina’s “Community Concerns” section when any member of the public can speak. In Walton and Colchester, however, public comments are welcome at the beginning of meetings. In Hancock, our observer remarks, “I’ve seen people in the audience just raise a hand and ask a question or put forth a comment in the middle of a meeting.”
Even when time is short, neighbors in Meredith, Stamford, and Sidney say there’s no time limit for public speakers. A Roxbury resident thinks the limit there is 3 minutes, “but I have never seen this enforced with the first question.” In Hancock, there is “typically, no time limit. But if there’s a big public hearing, the board has said five minutes or so and mentioned civility.” Similarly, none of the nine towns limit the topics addressed, and only one (Meredith) requires that speakers get advance permission.
The picture that emerges is one of relaxed, neighborly give-and-take. When we asked if Council members listen to the commenters and consider their ideas, we heard variations of the same positive answer. Yes, from Stamford and Walton. “Council members do listen and consider what is being said.” (Bovina). Yes, the public comment process “allows people to feel that they are heard.” (Sidney). “Mostly, I feel that they do. There are times where it seems minds have been made up already but overall, I think they do care about hearing from the community.” (Roxbury). “Sometimes a “a comment [even] makes its way into the [board’s official] discussion.” (Colchester). “It seems like people are “heard” though that’s a bit subjective to gauge. The supervisor and board are civil and polite.” (Hancock).
In our towns and villages, citizens who attend public meetings can speak and be heard.
Why doesn’t that happen at our county meetings too? Ask your Town Supervisor.