RULES OF PROCEDURE, CONDUCT, AND DECORUM AT MEETINGS  OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT  IA All Regular, Special, Emergency, and Executive Session Meetings of the COLEMAN County Commissioners Court will be called and conducted in accordance with the provisions of II. Regular, Special, and Emergency Meetings oft the COLEMAN/County Commissioners Court are open to thej public and to representatives oft the press and media. Executive Sessions ofthe Commissioners Court are not open to the public, the press, or the media, and only those individuals expressly requested or ordered tol be present are allowed to attend Executive III. The COLEMAN County Commissioners Court meets in Regular Session on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. In order for a matter ori issue to appear as an agenda item on the Agenda of any Regular Meeting oft the Commissioners Court, ai request must bei filed with and approved by at least one: member oft the Commissioners Court and/or the County Judge by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the Wednesday immediately preceding the next Regular Meeting ofthe IV. The business OfCOLEMANCoumty is conducted by and between the members ofthe COLEMAN County Commissioners Court and by those members oft the county staff, elected officials, department heads, consultants, experts, and/or members oft the public requested to be present and participate. While the public is invited to attend all meetings oft the Commissioners Court (except Executive Sessions) the public's participation therein is limited to that of observers unless ai member (or members) oft the public is requested to address the Commissioners Court on ap particular issue (ori issues) or unless the member (or members) oft the public completes al Public Participation Form and submits same to the County Clerk prior to the time the agenda item (or items) is addressed by the Court. A sample of the COLEMAN County Commissioners Court A. Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners Court shall be limited to ai maximum of five (5) minutes to make his/her remarks. Time for each speaker shall be maintained by the County Clerk or such other designated representative of the Commissioners B. Maximum discussion on any agenda item, regardless oft the: number of members ofthe public wishing to address the Commissioners Court on such agenda item (or items), shall be  the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code.  Sessions.  Commissioners Court.  Public Participation Form is attached hereto as Exhibit "A."  Court.    limited to thirty (30) minutes. In the event that more: than six (6) members oft thej public wish to address aj particular agenda item (ori items), then time allocated to members oft the public recognized to speak shall be divided equally between those members oft the public wishing to speak for the agenda item (ori items) and those members oft the public wishing to speak against C.In matters of exceptional interest, the Court may, by the majority vote of the members of the Court in attendance at the meeting, either shorten or lengthen the time allocated for all members ofthe public and/or the amount oftime allocated for all agenda items and/or a specific D.Itist the intention of the Court to provide open access to the citizens of COLEMAN County to address the Commissioners Court and express themselves on: issues of County Government. Members oft thej public are reminded that the COLEMAN County Commissioners Court is a Constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers, created under Article V, Section 1 and Section 18 oft the Texas Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the COLEMAN County Commissioners Court also possesses thej power to issue a Contempt of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local Government Code. Accordingly, members oft the public in attendance at any Regular, Special, and/or Emergency Meeting oft 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. Proper attire for men, women, and children is mandatory. Those members oft the public who are inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered tol leave the meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court's Order and/or continued disruption oft the meeting may result in a Contempt of Court E. Iti is not the intention ofthe COLEMAN/County Commissioners Court to provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or group. Neither is it the intention oft the Court to allow a member (or members) oft the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity oft the Court, as a body, or any member or members oft 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. These Rules do not prohibit public criticism ofthe Commissioners Court, including criticism of any act, omission, policy, procedure, program, or service. Violation oft these rules-  the agenda item (or items).  agenda item.  citation.  may result ini the following sanctions:  1. 2. 3. 4.  cancellation ofa speaker's remaining time; removal from the Commissioners Courtroom; a Contempt Citation; and/or  such other civil and/or criminal sanctions as may be authorized under the Constitution, Statutes, and Codes oft the State ofTexas.    V. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the COLEMAN_County Commissioners Court and is a fully participating member thereof. In the event oft the absence oft the County Judge, the senior member ofthe Commissioners Court (int terms oft total number of years as an elected representative) present at the Regular, Special, Emergency Meeting, or Executive Session, shall serve as the. Judge Pro Tem of the Court. However, nothing herein shall prevent the senior member of this Commissioners Court from delegating this duty to another member oft the VI. The County Judge (or the designated Judge Pro Tem oft the Commissioners Court), as presiding officer of the Commissioners Court, is responsible for conducting all meetings, and members oft the public who have properly completed al Public Participation Form and submitted same to the County Clerk must wait tol be recognized before they will be allowed to address the  Commissioners Court.  Court.  VII. Special Rules for the Press and Media  A.Non media personnel or equipment including lights, cameras, or microphones will be located on the Commissioners Court bench nor closer than five feet (5) in front oft the  Commissioners Court bench.  B. Reporters and media technicians are required to structure their movements, equipment set- up, and take-down and adjustments, etc., in such ai manner as to not disrupt the Commissioners Court deliberations or the ability oft the public to see, hear, and participate ini the proceedings. C.I Interviews shall not be conducted inside the Commissioners Courtroom during the time the D.I Media interviews which are conducted outside the Commissioners Courtroom should be conducted in such ai manner that the interview does not disturb, impede, or disrupt the proceedings of any Regular, Special, Emergency, and/or Executive Session Meeting oft the. VIII. The Sheriff OfCOLEMAN County, Texas, or his designated deputy, shall serve as the Bailiff at all Regular, Special, and Emergency Meetings oft the Court. However, ini the event of the absence oft the Sheriff, or in the event that there exists a conflict ofinterest between the * Sheriff, any member oft the Sheriff's Department, and the Commissioners Court, grint the event ofan Executive Session oft the Court in which the Sheriffi is not an authorized participant, therrin" such event, the Court shall appoint such other commissioned peace officers to serve as Bailiffas IX. From time to time, the Commissioners Court shall conduct town meetings and public hearings. These Rules of] Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum shall also apply to such town meetings and public hearings; however, the Commissioners Court may adopt such additional and supplemental rules for such meetings as may be necessary and appropriate to conduct such  Court is in session.  Court.  may be necessary.  meetings in an orderly, efficient, and proper manner.    X. These Rules of Procedure, Conduct, and Decorum at Meetings ofthe COLEMAN_County Commissioners Court shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Court and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by ai majority vote oft the  Commissioners Court.  ADOPTED BY THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COLEMAN_COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT on this the 30TH day of SEPTEMBER, 2024.  deghann Commissioner, Pct.3 Scotty Lawrence RLp Commissioner, Pct. Alan Davis  Commissioner, Pct.1 1 Matt Henderson Commissioner, Pct. 2 Re Jim Rice  S  4  Attesty byn County Clet-Stacdy Com  %  CAMMISSIONERSCOURT  103