Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 68-1-5 - Meetings generally open to the public; executive session5.1. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public. Provided, however, that the Commission may hold an executive session during a regular or special meeting, after the presiding officer has identified the authorization under W. Va. Code chapter six, article nine-a for the holding of such executive session and has presented it to the Commission and to the general public. No decision shall be made in an executive session.5.2. An executive session may be held only upon a majority affirmative vote of the Commission at a meeting at which a quorum is present, for one of the reasons enumerated in W. Va. Code § 6-9A-4 or as expressly and specifically otherwise provided by law.5.3. The Commission may adopt and enforce reasonable restrictions on attendance and presentation at any meeting or public hearing where there is not sufficient room to accommodate all members of the public who wish to attend. Such restrictions may include, but are not limited to, limiting the number of people who may be present in the meeting room at one time, limiting the length of time individual members of the public may remain in the room, and limiting the length of remarks by individual members of the public at a meeting or public hearing at which the public is invited to address the Commission. The Commission may also invite and encourage individuals to submit written comments in lieu of speaking. The Commission shall make every reasonable effort to accommodate as many members of the public who wish to attend a meeting or public hearing as possible.5.4. The chairperson or other presiding officer may order the removal from a meeting or public hearing of any member of the public who is disrupting the proceeding the extent that orderly conduct of the proceeding is compromised.5.5. All members of the public who attend a meeting or public hearing of the Commission may indicate their presence fay signing a register of attendance. The register may provide a place for members of the public to indicate whether or not they wish to address the Commission. Persons who desire to speak shall not be required to register more than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the time the scheduled meeting or public hearing is to commence.