To "bring order and civility" to meetings, Greenville Borough Council Tuesday adopted an ordinance governing its own governing process.

The ordinance "establishes rules for the conduct of meetings … and provides a reasonable opportunity for citizens to comment," according to the borough.

The move comes after a series of well-attended public meetings this year during which irate residents peppered borough officials with questions and comments. Order broke down at several meetings and in one case, former mayoral candidate Carmen Surano was thrown out after making several "out-of-order" comments.

Under the ordinance, only council members or residents recognized by the council president may discuss an issue when it is on the table for a vote, said Councilman Pete Longiotti.

The law gives residents a chance to comment on the agenda before any votes have been made, and for three minutes on any borough issue at the end of a meeting.

President Richard S. Houpt gave all residents who raised their hands Tuesday a chance to comment before each vote on a proposed ordinance or resolution. Under the ordinance and the state Sunshine Law, he is not required to do so, Longiotti said.

A copy of council's agenda will be posted on a bulletin board at the borough building every Friday after council's monthly agenda review meeting, said Borough Manager Kenneth S. Weaver.

Resident Warren Shaw said some residents might not be able to make it to the borough building and asked why the agenda was not run in the local newspaper.

"That would be an additional cost," Weaver said.

Shaw said it should be run for free. "I like the free idea," Weaver said.

An editor of The Record-Argus, Greenville, said the newspaper customarily prints stories on agenda review meetings and previews of regular meetings.

One woman said that if it has to, council should pay to keep residents informed. "It may be an extra cost, but council should want maximum input from its residents," she said.