Procedures for Public Comments

To ensure citizens have an opportunity to be heard on issues that impact their lives, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will conduct Public Comments at county commission meetings.

• Public Comments will be held during the regular Board of Commissioners meetings (the first and third Thursday of each month), during the Public Comments portions of the meeting.
• There shall be two (2) Public Comments portions at each of the meetings. The first Public Comments portion shall occur at the beginning of the meeting with the second Public Comments portion to occur either: (1) after public hearings but before Old Business; (2) if no Old Business, then prior to New Business; or (3) if no New Business, then prior to adjournment.
• The number of speakers during the Public Comments portions of the meeting is limited to twenty (20) - ten (10) at the beginning and ten (10) at the second portion. The speakers are selected on a first come basis and will be heard in the order in which they have signed up, with the exception that Forsyth County residents will be allowed to address the board first, with non-county residents to follow until the allotted time for Public Comments has expired.
• Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes.
• Each of the two (2) Public Comments portions of the meeting is limited to thirty (30) minutes.
• Extension of the sixty (60) minutes, three (3) minutes per speaker and the number of speakers may be granted, by a majority vote of the board.
• Prior to speaking each speaker must sign up by completing a Public Comment form. Forms are available outside the meeting room at 4:30 p.m. when the doors open. The clerk begins accepting the forms five (5) minutes prior to the announced starting time of the meeting. Should you arrive after the start of the meeting and wish to speak you must first turn in your completed form to the clerk.
• Each speaker is provided information with respect to specific requirements to address the board. Please state that information to the board prior to speaking.
• All comments shall be directed to the entire board and not to a particular commissioner.
• Personal attacks aimed at individuals will not be tolerated.
• The purpose for the Public Comments is to give citizens an opportunity to verbally express their views. Therefore, the board will not respond to comments or questions.
• The Board of Commissioners welcomes visitors to board meetings and is willing to hear any person or persons desiring to appear before the board who is not currently an announced candidate for public office, provided the person’s comments do not violate the broadcasting policies of the county as same are duly adopted from time to time or otherwise constitute defamation.

Procedures for Public Hearings

If an item is on an agenda as a Public Hearing, citizens may sign up to speak on the item. The Conflict of Interest in Zoning Actions Act, Official Code of Georgia Chapter 67A requires the rezoning applicant, any opposition and/or their attorneys to disclose campaign contributions with an aggregate value of $250 or more made to any Forsyth County official within two (2) years of the rezoning application date. If such a contribution was made, the applicant/opposition must fill out a separate Disclosure Form. Persons failing to complete the form are prohibited from speaking at any Public Hearing.

• Prior to speaking each speaker must sign up by completing a Public Hearing form. Forms are available outside the meeting room at 4:30 p.m. when the doors open.
• The form should be completed and returned to the clerk before speaking at the Public Hearing.
• Each side – those in opposition and those in support – are allotted a total of ten (10) minutes to speak.
• Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes.
• Extension of the three (3) minutes per speaker or the ten (10) minutes allotted per side may be granted, but only by a majority vote of the board.

Affiliated Partners

Forsyth County pays annual dues for membership to the following organizations:

Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) Forsyth County participates in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). Among other roles, this statewide organization lobbies the government of Georgia on behalf of its member counties.

National Association of Counties (NACo) Forsyth County is also a member of the National Association of Counties (NACo). Among other roles, this national organization lobbies the federal government on behalf of its member counties.