Testify

To Submit written testimony only: Councilmail@howardCountymd.gov

• Jump to: PROCEDURES FOR TESTIFYING.
• Jump to: INSTRUCTIONS.
• Jump to: Sign up FORM.

PROCEDURES FOR TESTIFYING

1. People may sign in to testify on the County Council's website as soon as the hearing agenda is posted, usually the first Monday of the month. They also may sign in at the rear of the Banneker Room beginning one-half hour before the hearing..
2. People who speak as individuals may speak for up to 3 minutes.
3. If only one person is speaking on behalf of a recognized group, that speaker may talk for up to 5 minutes. (See note below.)
4. Speakers may not cede time to another speaker.
5. Placards, balloons, and other displays that may impair visibility or detract from the formality of the occasion are not allowed in the Banneker Room.
6. People who submit written testimony electronically need not bring paper copies. Others are asked to bring 10 copies of any written testimony and to give it to the Council's Administrator for distribution to the Council and for the record.
7. Generally, people are called to testify on each bill in the order of the sign-in; however, the Chair has flexibility to take people or bills out of order.
8. When a speaker is called to the podium, he or she should first state his or her name and address so that it may be included in the record of testimony. If speaking for a group, the speaker should also state the name of the group.
9. Written testimony will be accepted until the voting session on the bill; however, members are most likely to have time to read it if it is submitted by the week before the voting session. Testimony e-mailed to councilmail@howardcountymd.gov will be directed automatically to all council members and to the Administrator for the record.
10. Please turn off all cell phones, Blackberries, and other electronic equipment while in the Banneker Room. (It is not sufficient to put them on mute or vibrate. The signals sometimes interfere with the sound system, causing feedback and other problems.)
11. Food or drinks may be consumed in the lobby. Please do not bring them into the Banneker Room (including bottled water).

Note: If more than one person from a group wishes to speak, they should speak as individuals, for a maximum of 3 minutes each. They should not identify themselves as group members or representatives. A group may have a single spokesperson for 5 minutes OR speak as individuals for 3 minutes each, but not both.

Designating a single speaker for a group tends to avoid repetition for the Council and allows the group to give a thorough, cohesive account. Such a presentation usually is more compelling than a larger number of individual speakers. Groups who have a single speaker may recognize others in the group and may also submit written testimony or a petition of support from a number of individual members who elect not to speak.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONLINE TESTIMONY FORM

• Required fields are marked with an asterisk and must be filled out in order to successfully sign up to give testimony. If you are signing up to give testimony on behalf of an organization or business, then the address information for that organization/business is also required.
  
  NOTE: With regard to telephone number entry, entering any phone number satisfies the requirement.

• An email will confirm that the online sign up has been successfully processed.

• You can sign up for one item at a time. To sign up for multiple items, use the confirmation in the email. All of your personal information will be filled out automatically.
  
  NOTE: You may change your personal information.

To Sign up to TESTIFY

The fields marked with an asterisk (*), are required.

First Name * Last Name *

Street # * Street Name *

City * ST * Zip *

Provide at least one phone number *

Home Phone Cell Phone Work Phone Ext.

E-Mail Address

Retype Your E-Mail Address

If you are speaking on behalf of a recognized group or a business, please provide the name and address of the group or business below:

Organization or Business Name

Street # Street Name

City ST Zip

If you are the SINGLE speaker representing this group or business, check here:

Choose your stance on the testimony subject selected above:

Undeclared

Pro

Con

You may submit a plain text copy of your testimony here (8,000 characters or less):

Enter the letters and characters you see above. * Click here to hear the characters spoken (Microsoft media file [.wav]).

The fields marked with an asterisk (*), are required.