Any member of the public (including individuals speaking in their capacity as representatives of public/Town offices) who want to offer oral testimony at a remote public hearing is encouraged to register by emailing the following information to Lucy Morrison ([email protected]) at least five hours before the scheduled hearing start time on the day of the hearing. Registration information must include:
- Name
- Name on screen (Note: this may be different from the registrant's name)
- Email address
- Cell phone number (to enable communication by text if transmission issues arise during the hearing)
Pre-registration is intended to enable the MVC to run the hearing more efficiently. Registrants will be included on the "speaking list" and will be called on before those who have not pre-registered.
Once the registration information is received and verified by the Commission staff, registrants will be notified by email that they are eligible to participate and offer oral testimony. Where practicable, the speaking list will be posted online and emailed to registrants so speakers can anticipate their turn. (Note: If time does not permit all pre-registered speakers to speak, the hearing will be continued.)
Members of the public who have not pre-registered may still offer testimony at the hearing if time allows (and, if it does not, they may offer testimony at any continued hearing). In order to alert the hearing administrator that they would like to speak, the individual must notify the hearing administrator using the "chat" (or similar) feature that they wish to speak. Individuals can also raise their hands, either actually or virtually, to initiate a chat (or similar feature) with the hearing administrator to be put on a list to speak. Individuals must include their name, email address and telephone number (as with pre-registration) and, if they wish to ask a question, they should include the person to whom their question is directed. (Alternatively, if the hearing is to be continued, individuals wishing to testify may pre-register as outlined above).
When the Chair is ready to recognize a speaker, the speaker's name will be announced and the hearing administrator will unmute that speaker. The speaker should wait for confirmation from the hearing administrator after their name is announced before starting to speak.
Testimony by members of the public may be time limited by the Chair and subject to other remote hearing protocols (as established by the Chair and explained at the opening of the hearing).
After all testimony is complete and if the Chair determines there is time, the Chair will allow follow-up Q and A. The process for public participation in the Q and A is as above for registering to provide testimony during the hearing.
Members of the public are urged to not repeat matters stated in their filed written testimony, if any, and should not repeat the testimony of others. A statement of concurrence with the views expressed by others who have previously testified is sufficient. In addition, persons testifying at one hearing are aked to not offer the same testimony at any continued hearing.
The Chair has the discretion to call an end to the testimony of any member of the public if the testimony is not relevant, repetitive or is otherwise inappropriate.
Members of the public must not provide testimony or any information to a Commissioner outside of the public hearing once an application has been referred to the Commission.