County Commissioners

Public Comments

Public Comment during the Commission Meeting may be for all matters, both on and off the agenda, and be limited to four minutes per person. Persons are invited to submit comments in writing on the agenda items and/or attend and make comment at the Commission meeting. Members of the public are reminded that the Brazos County Commissioners Court is a Constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers, created under Article V, Section 1 and Section 18 of the Texas Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the Brazos County Commissioners Court also possesses the power to issue a Contempt of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local Government Code. Accordingly, members of the public in attendance at any Regular, Special and/or Emergency meeting of the Court shall conduct themselves with proper respect and decorum in speaking to, and/or addressing the Court; in participating in public discussions before the Court; and in all actions in the presence of the Court. Those members of the public who are inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court's Order and/or continued disruption of the meeting may result in a Contempt of Court Citation.

It is not the intention of the Brazos County Commissioners Court to provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or group. Neither is it the intention of the Court to allow a member (or members) of the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity of the Court, as a body, or any member or members of the Court, individually or collectively. Accordingly, profane, insulting or threatening language directed toward the Court and/or any person in the Court's presence and/or racial, ethnic or gender slurs or epithets will not be tolerated. Violation of these rules may result in the following sanctions:

1. cancellation of a speaker's time;
2. removal from the Commissioners Court;
3. a Contempt Citation; and/or
4. such other and/or criminal sanctions as may be authorized under the Constitution, Statutes and Codes of the State of Texas.

The County Commissioners Court can deliberate or take action only if a matter has been listed on an agenda properly posted prior to the meeting. During the public comment period, speakers may address matters not listed on the published agenda. The Open Meeting Law does not expressly prohibit responses to public comments by the Commissioners Court. However, responses from the County Judge or Commissioners to unlisted public comment topics could become deliberation on a matter without notice to the public. To ensure the public has notice of all matters the Commissioners Court will consider, the County Judge and/or Commissioners may choose not to respond to public comments, except to correct factual inaccuracies, recite existing policy in response to an inquiry or to ask that a matter be listed on a future agenda. See Texas Open Meetings Act §551.042.