The Board of Health is not required to allow a general public commen at the end of their agenda. But specific public hearings for septic permits, and other regulatory things, do require the ability to speak publicly at the public hearing. So, you are allowed to speak under state regulation about your neighbors variance request to build their leachfield closer than allowed by your town bylaw to a wetland, but you are not allowed to speak to a general concern about actions the Board of Health should take at the end of a meeting or whenever, unless the chair decides to recognize you.

I really think the state should make it required to allow some form of public comment with a reasonable time limits and reasonable topic limits at every public meeting. And I’m a public official… Take up an extra 30 minutes of my time in a meeting, please! If that means we have active invested residents, who care about what’s happening in the municipality, fuck yeah. Bring it on!