Mayor to push speakers from the floor back

Greensboro Mayor Bill Knight said during a city council briefing today that at the council's next meeting on Jan. 19 he plans to begin scheduling speakers from the floor at a time near the end of the meeting. Currently, speakers from the floor is the sixth item, after resolutions and before public hearing items. Knight said he will have speakers from the floor address the council after public hearing items and business items.

"The speakers from the floor will have ample time," Knight said. "This gives them time to go home and get dinner."

District 1 Councilwoman Dianne Bellamy-Small predicted the move will not go over well with citizens, noting that many of those who address council are elderly people who make their presentation and then go home.

"I think the message is going to be that you don't want to hear from them," she said.

District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny and District 5 Councilwoman Trudy Wade said they support the mayor's decision.

"Some of the folks that are going to speak from the floor might have to wait for awhile, but unfortunately people who have business have to wait until 11 o'clock," Matheny said. "We've got to get back to doing the business of the city."