Niagara Falls Residents Outraged Over New Limits on Public Comment at Council Meetings

A controversial resolution passed by the Niagara Falls City Council on Wednesday, March 26th, has sparked outrage among residents who feel their voices are being stifled. The new rules impose stricter time limits on public comment and restrict the number of speakers on any given topic, leading many to accuse city leaders of silencing dissent.

The council is currently under democratic control.

The resolution, approved by a 4-1 vote, reduces individual speaking time from five minutes to three and caps the number of speakers per topic at three. Additionally, it grants the council chairperson the authority to cut off any speaker deemed to be “verbally attacking” government officials, organizations, or private entities.

Council Chair James Perry led the push for these changes following multiple contentious meetings where residents shouted at council members and engaged in heated exchanges. Wednesday’s meeting was no exception, as community members spoke out for over an hour against the resolution forcing a recess due to the overwhelming backlash.

Many residents saw the resolution as an attempt to suppress criticism rather than maintain order.

“We elect our representatives to serve us, not to protect themselves from tough conversations,” one resident argued. “Since when did public meetings become a privilege instead of a right?”

Another resident issued a stark warning: “If you take the voice away from the people, we will take your seat away. We don’t want leaders who refuse to listen.”

Originally, the resolution included 13 changes, but the final version passed with 12 after amendments were made during the recess. One of the most contentious provisions, limiting the number of topics residents could discuss, was removed. This allows public comments on agenda items and a designated “for the good of the community” segment to continue.

It is unclear how this resolution will impact the upcoming city council race where multiple seats are up.

Niagara Falls Residents Outraged Over New Limits on Public Comment at Council Meetings