Pooler council switches to online public comment system

POOLER, Ga. (WTOC) - Pooler city leaders have moved the city’s general public comment period to a 24/7 online portal, a change that has sparked frustration and questions from some residents on social media.

Mayor Karen Williams said the goal is to expand access by giving people another way to share concerns if they can’t make City Council meetings or don’t feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd.

William says the change applies to the general, open public comment period that typically took place at the end of council meetings. Residents can still speak during required public hearings and can still comment on items on the meeting agenda.

The new system also adds a deadline. Comments must be submitted at least 24 hours before a City Council meeting so council members can review them ahead of time.

“When I took over as mayor, I wanted the public to talk about all agenda items, not just public hearings,” Williams said.

She adds that she pushed for additional opportunities for public input that many municipalities do not offer.

“I wanted more transparency, so I wanted the public to talk more about ordinances, special events, and they can ask questions about anything on the agenda,” Williams said. “Then I went a step further, and I added open public comments at the end. Most municipalities do not do that.”

Some critics argue the shift reduces the ability to raise concerns that are not already on the agenda. Jeff Beauvais, a non-Pooler resident and advocate with the nonprofit One Hundred Miles, said moving open comment online makes it harder to address “general matters” in person.

“This is a real loss for the residents of Pooler, not being able to address their council on general matters that’s not in the agenda,” Beauvais said, adding he came to urge the city to adopt a data center moratorium and related ordinances.

Williams said silencing residents is “the last thing” she wants and said the city is trying to adjust to residents who feel left out because they cannot attend meetings and who feel timid.

“Other cities don’t let you talk about every agenda item. Other cities didn’t have the public comment period at the end,” Williams said. “But, you have to adjust as time goes on and what we were seeing was that people were feeling left out that could not come to the council meetings.”

Williams said the portal began receiving comments soon after launching, including from people who have never attended a council meeting. She said the city will make changes if improvements are needed.

Pooler residents who wish to access the public comment portal can click here.