Edison council to revisit public-comment limits after months of debate over 4‑minute rule

Residents and several council members pressed the Edison Township Council on Thursday to restore a longer public-comment allotment and reinstate a rebuttal option that the council reduced earlier this year.

Council President Harris said he will place a proposal on a future agenda to reconsider the current four‑minute public-comment limit and to consider returning to a six‑minute limit with a rebuttal period.

Multiple residents used oral petitions to ask for the longer speaking time and a right to respond to answers from council or staff. Elizabeth Conway told the council she wanted to see the six minutes restored and raised concerns about scooters and other items she planned to address. Gloria Daven, also a resident, urged the council not to “stifle our right to speech” and asked for a return of the rebuttal. “People do not feel satisfied if they can’t have a chance to at least say one other thing that maybe hadn’t occurred to them until you give your answer,” Daven said.

Council members debated compromise options. Councilman Brasher (spoke in support of restoring six minutes) said he will place a formal proposal on the next meeting agenda. Council Vice President Poynter suggested a middle ground — for example, a shorter rebuttal or a slightly longer main allotment — but said details should be worked out in ordinance language. Council President Harris noted the school board uses a six‑minute allotment with a three‑minute rebuttal and said the previous six‑minute model had been in place locally for years.

No ordinance change was adopted on Thursday; the council’s action was to agree to schedule the item for future consideration so members can consider definitions (for example, what qualifies as a rebuttal), time limits and administrative language before voting.