The Madison Historic District Board of Review on its November agenda completed a second reading and voted to adopt an amendment that allows the presiding officer to require speakers to sign in in advance and to impose a four-minute time limit for public comment, with the presiding officer or a majority of present voting members able to waive the limit.

Proponents said putting the rule in the board's ordinance improves transparency and protects the board from procedural challenges. One member said the authority effectively already exists in council rules but supported codifying it for clarity. Opponents cautioned that an explicit sign-in requirement and time limits could chill public participation; one board member urged the board to look inward and shorten its own discussion times before restricting the public (SEG 1528–1536).

After discussion the board moved and seconded the amendment and recorded a vote in favor (transcript records approvals and some disapprovals across the roll-call). The amendment mirrors council-adopted language, according to staff, and will be incorporated into the board's procedures. The board directed staff to update the ordinance language to reflect the adopted amendment.