Lynbrook's 5-minute rule draws ire

Some residents don’t want their time to address the board limited to 5 minutes.

Herald file photo

“You can ask a question in five minutes, but any one important issue may require more than five minutes,” said Steve Rossi, reacting to the new five-minute limit on residents’ comments during the good and welfare portion of Lynbrook village board meetings.

Rossi, a 38-year resident, said that in the past he has spoken frequently at the meetings, which sometimes ran until 2 or 3 a.m. Now he watches them on the village television station. “Meetings allow residents to address the whole board, and limiting comments will only benefit officials by saving them time,” he said. “What [the board] is doing is trying to trivialize and minimize the importance of an issue to residents — so what does five minutes really accomplish?”

The June 20 decision has been criticized by several residents, with some calling it a limit on free speech. Trustees have said it is not meant to discourage residents’ comments, but rather to curtail politically motivated accusations, but some are not buying that explanation.

One 25-year resident, who did not give his name, said that the time set aside for public speaking was always for residents to talk about anything that was on their minds, and that the new rule puts limits on that. “The rule to limit good and welfare was done because they obviously couldn’t answer the questions we were asking,” he said. “Residents will have no more voice. People want to speak out, and limiting free speech in Lynbrook is a terrible precedent.”

Another resident, who also declined to be identified, said she has been living in the village for five years. She said that a group of six residents used to speak regularly at the meetings, and were treated “horribly.” They now refuse to even address the board, she said, and the only one of them who remains is resident Jim Tisdell.