Panel advances Public Speak Out pilot to full Council

Select Board · Meeting of February 19, 2026

SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield City Council subcommittee advanced a 90-day pilot to move Public Speak Out into regular meetings. The General Government subcommittee heard Attorney Moore explain that the order would suspend Rules 3 and 5 for 90 days, after which the old schedule returns unless the Council acts. The panel added language barring councilors from dialogue or questions with speakers, citing the Open Meeting Law, then voted without opposition to send the item to the full Council.

Council President Whitfield said constituents complained that councilors were "not showing up." Open questions included the eight-speaker, three-minute limit, the sign-up deadline and broader wording for permitted topics. Moore planned to return with revisions for the March 2 meeting.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.