A person in attendance at a formal session of the Board shall be permitted to address the session, subject to the following rules:

1. A person who desires to address a regular formal session of the Board is requested to deliver to the Recording Secretary, personally or by mail, at the Office of the Board, Ferris State University, 1201 S. State Street, room 301F, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307, or at any temporary office of the Board, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of such formal session, a written notice which identifies the formal session and the person desiring to address the Board, and includes a brief description of the subject matter concerning which the person desires to address the Board. Subject to the provisions below, the Recording Secretary shall schedule the person on the agenda, and, at least five (5) days prior to the session, the Recording Secretary shall inform the person of the date and approximate time for which the person's address to the session has been scheduled.
2. A person desiring to address the Board, who has not notified the Recording Secretary as provided in Sec. 2-215(1), may nevertheless ask the Chairperson for permission to address the Board. The Chairperson may, in his or her discretion, grant such permission subject to the limitations provided in this section.
3. A person who is permitted to address the Board shall be allowed a maximum of three (3) minutes for his/her presentation unless additional time is granted by the Chairperson as provided in this section. A person desiring additional time must include a request for a specific amount of additional time in the written notice delivered to the Recording Secretary pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1) or in the request made to the Chairperson pursuant to Sec. 2-215(2). The Recording Secretary shall promptly inform the Chairperson and the President of any application for additional time contained in a written notice delivered pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1). The Chairperson, after consultation with the President, shall decide, in the Chairperson's discretion, whether an applicant shall be granted additional time for his/her presentation, and if so, how much additional time shall be granted, taking into consideration the number of persons requesting to be heard and the time allocated for hearing of the public. In the case of an applicant who has included a request for additional time in an application made pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1), the Recording Secretary shall promptly inform the applicant of the Chairperson's decision.
4. Not more than one (1) hour shall be allocated on the agenda of a regular formal session of the Board for all of the presentations scheduled pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1) and Sec. 2-215(2), unless the time is extended pursuant to this section. Persons who notify the Recording Secretary of their desire to address a regular formal session of the Board in accordance with Sec. 2-215(1) shall be scheduled on the agenda, in the same order in which the Recording Secretary receives their respective written notices pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1), followed by persons who are given permission to address the session pursuant to Sec. 2-215(2). In the event that the aggregate amount of time required for presentations scheduled for any regular formal session of the Board shall approach one (1) hour, the Recording Secretary shall promptly inform the Chairperson and the President, and the Chairperson, after consultation with the President, may in the Chairperson's discretion extend the time allocated on the agenda for such presentations from one (1) hour to a maximum of two (2) hours. In the event that it is impractical for the Board to hear comments from every person present and wishing to be heard, the Chairperson may do one or more of the following: place further limits on how long a person may speak; adopt procedures by which an individual representing a particular viewpoint may be designated by others to speak for them; and/or adopt other procedures designed to ensure that the Board will be able to conduct its necessary business while affording the public a reasonable opportunity to be heard. Any person whose written request pursuant to Sec. 2-215(1) is not granted because the time allocated on the agenda for all such presentations (including any extension thereof made by the Chairperson) has been filled, shall be scheduled by the Recording Secretary on the agenda for the next succeeding regular formal session of the Board; and the Recording Secretary shall inform the person of the date and approximate time for which the person's address to the Board has been scheduled.
5. The Board may, in its discretion, by a majority vote of the Trustees present, waive any requirement of Sec. 2-215(1) to Sec. 2-215(4).
6. A person may submit written material to the Board for consideration, whether or not in connection with an address by the person to the Board. Such written material shall be delivered to the Recording Secretary at the Office of the Board, Ferris State University, 1201 S. State Street, room 301F, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307, or at any temporary office of the Board.
7. In exercising their discretion to limit or to waive limitations on public comment at a session under this Sec. 2-215, the Chairperson and the Board shall do so in a content-neutral basis.
   
   

Statutory Reference:

MCLA 15.263(4)(5)(6), MCLA 380.1808.