Prattville council adopts procedures ordinance; extends public comment to five minutes and cites Alabama executive-session statute

Prattville—The Prattville City Council adopted an ordinance Nov. 3 to set council procedures for the 2025—1029 quadrennium. The ordinance was amended during debate to extend citizen comment time, clarify executive-session language and cite Alabama statutory authority for executive sessions.

Councilor Thea Barnes Langley introduced the ordinance by title. After a motion and a second, the council suspended the rules to vote on the ordinance at the same meeting.

During debate Langley proposed several specific changes. She argued that the citizen comment period should be extended from three minutes to five, saying, "5 minutes respects citizens courage and effort to address the council; 3 minutes often limits their ability to convey concerns, especially for first time and anxious speakers." The council approved that amendment by raised hands.

Langley also sought to clarify language in section 17 concerning executive sessions. She proposed wording to specify that the city council is the governing body that moves into executive session and to require that any nonmembers invited into that session be identified in advance by the council president. During discussion City Attorney Andrew Odom advised on legal limits to executive sessions and suggested the city attorney be permitted to attend when appropriate: "I would advise that the city attorney be permitted to attend all executive sessions to ensure the Open Meetings Act is being followed."

A motion to require the city attorney always be present in executive sessions was seconded but failed on the floor. The council then approved an amendment changing the word "body" to "governing body" in the ordinance and separately approved adding a citation to Alabama Code 36-25A-7, which enumerates authorized purposes for executive sessions under state law. Following amendments, the ordinance was adopted by the council as amended.

The ordinance sets procedures for council operations during the 2025—1029 term, including the newly adopted five-minute public-comment period and the clarified executive-session language. The ordinance text as adopted, minutes and the final vote will be recorded in the official meeting minutes and retained by the city clerk.