IRON MOUNTAIN — New protocols for “decorum and safety” at Dickinson County Board meetings are under review after a dispute at a Sept. 8 meeting when an Iron Mountain man addressed the board during citizens’ time and resisted Chair Dan Harrington’s order to remove his backwards ball cap.

With the circuit courtroom filled to capacity for a board meeting Monday, Jason Gibbs spoke to commissioners again. He wore a decorated derby hat, and told Harrington, “You know you were wrong last month.”

Under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, public bodies must provide time to permit the public to address the board. The law also enables each board to establish and record rules for how the public portion of the meeting proceeds.

At the direction of commissioners, Prosecuting Attorney Abbey Anderson has offered what was described Monday as “boilerplate” protocols. The section under consideration for “proper attire” is similar to rules of “etiquette and conduct” posted by the Michigan Supreme Court for attorneys and spectators, but a number of citizens took exception.

Lynne Wilson of Breitung Township asked who on the board will be assigned to measure skirts to see if they’re of appropriate length. “This is high school crap,” she said.

Virginia Feleppa of Iron Mountain said she would dispute “any wording that restricts head coverings” as the board “has no right to know” why someone is wearing one.

Commissioner Dan Sullivan said the discussion Monday was only “a first reading” of the protocols.

Commissioner Joe Stevens said he wants a legal opinion on whether the “constitutional rights of citizens” are being protected. “This should be about what are their rights, not what rights do we have,” he said.

Stevens also protested a proposed three-minute time limit for each speaker, which is down from the current five minutes. That objection drew agreement from Commissioner Victoria Jakel.

The rules, Jakel added, are meant to provide “basic rules of decorum.”

Harrington, meanwhile, noted no handguns or other weapons are allowed under the protocols. He said he may want that to be “an option for people at the table.”

Before entering, citizens attending courthouse meetings are screened by sheriff’s deputies for weapons.

The proposed amendment to the county board’s Rules of Order is this:

Article V: Meeting Protocols

Section 7: Meeting Decorum and Safety

When the Board is in session, the following rules must be followed by all participants, including Board members, county officials, and citizens. These rules are designed to ensure that all participants observe the same rules of propriety, decorum and good conduct applicable to members of the Board, as well as to ensure the safety and security of the facility where such meeting is held.

1. Citizens may address the Board during public comment by completing a speaker card and presenting it to the County Clerk. Any person wishing to address the Board shall approach the podium when recognized by the Board and, to maintain order and civility, shall address the Board from the podium only and shall not address other citizens in attendance. To comply with ADA requirements, the podium will be made accessible to all participants.

2. Public comment is limited to three (3) minutes for each speaker. When the time limit expires, the Chair shall so notify the speaker and permit him or her to complete their address within thirty (30) seconds. If the speaker has not finished at the end of thirty (30) seconds, the Chair or other presiding official shall strike the gavel and direct the speaker to cease their address immediately.

3. Persons attending and addressing the Board must be dressed in proper attire. Specifically, persons not wearing shoes or wearing inappropriate clothing such as halter tops, bare midriffs, bathing suits, inappropriate shorts or skirts, hats or caps, sunglasses, or the like shall be excluded from the meetings. Garments that include obscene or profane images or text or depict violence, illegal substances, or the like shall not be permitted. Exceptions will be made as required by the ADA.

4. Any person making personal, impertinent, and/or slanderous remarks, or who becomes disruptive and/or boisterous while addressing the Board or attending the Board meeting, will be asked to leave by the Chair. If a person is asked to leave and does not, the Sheriff shall take action to remove the individual from the meeting. There may be civil and/or criminal consequences for disrupting the peace of a public meeting.

5. Participants shall refrain from private discussions or conduct during the meeting that may disrupt those in attendance.

6. No handguns or weapons are allowed.

7. Signs advising the public of these rules shall be posted on the first floor of the Courthouse and immediately outside the Board meeting.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.