Sharpsville school district residents continued Tuesday telling their school board they don't like being told how long they can speak and when during a meeting they can address particular topics.

In January, board solicitor John Reed suggested amending the public-comment policy, but to try it out first. The amended policy restricts comments at the beginning of the meeting to topics that appear on the board's agenda; topics not on the agenda must wait until the end of the meeting. Also, comments are limited to three minutes per person, with a total time limit of 15 minutes.

In recent years, the board had strayed from its public-comment policy, which is more restrictive than the one Reed introduced, and the solicitor is encouraging board members either to follow the current policy or to adopt a new one.

Several residents who were ready to speak at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting were told their comments would have to wait because their topics were not on the board's agenda.

"It's a sad day when people can't speak," said resident and former school Director Gerald Hanley. "Mr. Timmerman (former board president Robert Timmerman) allowed people to speak ... remember, it's us who put you here."

Even a few board members spoke out against the amended public-comment policy.

"I don't think that we should wait (until the end of the meeting)," Director Chris Ruffo said after a resident who wanted to talk about the basketball program was asked to hold off. "Let them talk," Ruffo said.

"I agree with Chris," said Director Donna Murray. "I don't think we should refuse public input. I don't think we even need to try it out. This is why we were elected."

"The intent is not to stifle public participation, just to make it more orderly," Reed said, pointing out that the meeting could move along quicker if nonagenda items are addressed at the end so that visitors who want to leave can.

Reed also cited a recent case in the Pittsburgh suburb of Plum, which had a similar public comment policy.

In January, Plum council set new rules stating that residents sign up 30 minutes in advance and speak only about items on the meeting agenda, according to the Associated Press. A former council member who objected to the new rules had the American Civil Liberties Union sue in federal court, alleging free speech infractions, Reed said.

A judge ruled that the council had to amend its policy to allow for general discussion, Reed said, adding Plum council then set aside time for that at the end of meetings. The judge did not rule against a time limit on public comments, Reed said.

"Plum borough's amended policy is virtually identical to the policy I introduced in January," said Reed, who has a copy of Plum's policy.

"The object is not to go ahead and stifle comments, but to go about it and put it in a workable format. I've asked the board to experiment," Reed said. "The board is either going to follow the existing policy or amend it. My recommendation is to amend it, to try it, to see how it works and adopt a workable policy."

You can e-mail Staff Writer Erin Remai at eremai@sharon-herald.com.