On Dec. 10, the Moore County Planning Board adopted a new policy to solve a problem that never existed. The board instituted a policy of limiting speakers at public hearings to three minutes. This occurred without any prior notice and just before a potentially controversial hearing where many people planned to present prepared statements. The result was one of the most uncivil Planning Board hearings that I have ever attended.

Limiting speakers to three minutes at these meetings does a disservice to both the public and the applicants. Many issues that come before the board are complicated and emotionally charged. The public must have the opportunity to fully explain their concerns, and the applicants and board members need to hear these in order to reach an informed conclusion. When making decisions that affect folks' homes, land and future, time should not be a consideration.

The Planning Board has always been the public's forum, and people need to be sure that they are heard. There may be a place for limiting the amount of time people are able to speak at the other boards, but not at the Planning Board level.

Requesting speakers be concise and considerate of the time they use to speak would be (and has been) a better policy. I urge the Planning Board to rescind this ill-conceived action at their next meeting.

Harry J. Huberth

Southern Pines

Editor's Note: The writer is a former chairman of the Moore County Planning Board.