BIDDEFORD — A public comment session is now on the agenda of regularly scheduled City Council meetings in Biddeford.

The public comment session, where residents can voice concerns on any local issue, was traditionally part of the Municipal Officers meetings.

Prior to 2016, the Municipal Officers meetings were held along with City Council meetings twice a month, giving the public regularly scheduled opportunities to voice their opinions on topics not on the council agendas.

In January of 2016, the City Council voted to hold Municipal Officers meetings on an as needed basis, such as when a restaurant was applying for a liquor license.

The council voted Tuesday to change the rules so that public comment will be during City Council meetings instead of the Municipal Officers meetings. The public comment session will be held after the city manager’s report, which is held near the end of council meetings.

Members of the public can speak during the public session for up to three minutes.

Councilor Michael Swanton made motions to increase the public comment time to first five, then four, minutes, but both failed.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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