Beginning April 1, written public comments or questions will not be read into the public record during meetings of the Limerick Township Board of Supervisors.
Township officials said the change is intended to help manage increasingly lengthy meetings, while some board members also pointed to fairness concerns between written submissions and in-person speakers. They also noted that in some cases, the township cannot confirm the source of emailed comments.
The update was announced during the Board of Supervisors' March 17 meeting. Township solicitor Rebecca Geiser stated that written comments will no longer be read into the record but residents can still submit emails as before. Those messages will continue to be shared with supervisors and township staff.
Geiser added that there is no legal requirement for written comments to be read into the record and described the shift as an administrative change that does not require a formal vote.
Why the Change Is Happening
Township officials said the change is aimed at managing meeting length, with some board members citing fairness concerns.
Residents speaking in person are typically limited to two minutes, but written submissions are not — a contrast that Supervisor Patrick Morroney said has created an imbalance.
“People come in here to speak, they get two minutes,” Morroney said. “You write a long email — it’s unfair for the folks that have taken the time to come here to share their thoughts.”
Concerns About Accessibility
Not all supervisors supported the change.
Supervisor Linda Irwin raised concerns that eliminating the public reading of written comments could make it harder for some residents to participate, especially those who cannot attend meetings in person.
“It disenfranchises shift workers, people who can't attend because they work a second shift or even a third shift, who are also taxpayers and residents,” Irwin said.
Board President Connie Lawson acknowledged the ongoing debate and said the board will need to keep meetings moving efficiently, particularly with time constraints for upcoming meetings.
“We are going to have to have some control over how we get through the people that are in front of us,” Lawson said.
She added that she will continue reviewing submitted emails on her own time.
What Residents Can Expect
The change does not affect how residents submit comments, only how those comments are handled during meetings.
The adjustment comes ahead of upcoming high-interest proceedings, including those related to a proposed data center that could bring increased public participation. The proposal is scheduled to return to the Limerick Planning Commission on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Spring-Ford 9th Grade Center, followed by a conditional use hearing before the Board of Supervisors on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Spring-Ford High School.
Because the meetings are being held at a school, they must adjourn by 9:30 p.m. Officials have noted that the conditional use hearing may span multiple sessions, with public comment taking place only after all testimony has been completed at the conclusion of the hearing process.
Officials said streamlining procedures now will help ensure those meetings remain efficient while still allowing residents to share their input.
The new approach takes effect April 1.
