Disclaimer:

Albemarle County values your comments and we encourage you to share your thoughts. All comments and information submitted through eComment (SpeakUp) will be shared with the Board of Supervisors and become part of the official public record. Please note that all eComments are publicly viewable by anyone visiting this page.

To leave a comment or register to speak, you will need to create an account by clicking on the Sign-Up link at the top right corner of this eComment webpage. 

Once you have created an account, you will be redirected to a page titled "What is Your Civic Idea?" On the right side of the page click on the meetings link. Scroll down the page until you find the agenda item for which you would like to speak or leave a comment.

Online signups will end when the meeting begins. If you would like to sign up to speak at the meeting after the online signup period has ended, please e-mail clerk@albemarle.org.

To be eligible to speak during Public Comment on: Matters Previously Considered or Currently Pending Before the Board (Other than Scheduled Public Hearings)  ("Matters from the Public"), you are required to complete 5 profile question and indicate if you will be speaking in person or via Zoom. 

Please follow these instructions to complete the profile questions:

1.  Click on your name in the top right corner of the eComment screen

2.  Click on My Profile

3.  Click on Info

4.  Click on Profile Questions

5.  Click on Edit Profile 

If you have any difficulty creating an account, submitting a comment, signing up to speak, or completing the profile questions, please try using another web browser (Internet Explorer, Edge, Safari, Chrome, etc.). If you have any questions about the eComment process, please contact clerk@albemarle.org. 

Please visit the Participation Guide for Public Meetings for information on how to join the meeting virtually.

During Matters from the Public, the Board of Supervisors will receive public comment on matters on the agenda, matters previously considered by the Board or matters that are pending before the Board. For all other items you are encouraged to e-mail the Board at bos@albemarle.org. Up to 10 persons may speak during each Matters from the Public session. In order to be eligible to speak, you must sign up either in advance of the meeting or at the meeting on the sign up sheets provided. If you do not sign up to speak, you will not be permitted to speak. Each speaker may speak for up to three minutes. In order to allow the Board to efficiently and effectively conduct its business, each speaker may speak at only one Matters from the Public session at each meeting, must address only the Board, and must not engage in speech or other behavior that actually disrupts the meeting. If you wish to use a visual or audio presentation, you may do so provided that the presentation is received by the Clerk at least 48 hours before the Matters from the Public session at which the speaker plans to speak.

During Public Hearings, the Board will only acknowledge speakers addressing the item listed for Public Hearing. Speakers are limited to one appearance of three minutes per public hearing item. Individuals are allowed three minutes to speak. There is no limit on the number of speakers who may sign up to speak at a Public Hearing. 

The Board requests that all speakers adhere to the following public speaking guidelines:

·    Address comments directly to the Board as a whole

·    Give written statements and other supporting material to the Clerk

·    If making comments through Zoom, you may upload written comments through the eComment Portal or email your comments to  clerk@albemarle.org

·    If you represent a group or organization, you may ask others present to raise their hands and be recognized

·    If you exceed your allotted time, you will be asked to end your comments

·    If a speaker does not use all allocated time, the unused time may not be shared with another speaker

·    Speakers are permitted one opportunity to comment during either public comment periods per meeting

·    Back-and-forth debate is prohibited

·    Do not speak from your seat or out of turn

·    Persons in the audience are encouraged to raise their hands to indicate their support or opposition to speakers at the podium, or any item during the meeting

·    Please refrain from applause and other forms of approval or disapproval, as a courtesy to each speaker

·    Signs are permitted in the meeting room so long as they are not attached to any stick or pole and do not obstruct the view of persons attending the meeting

All comments are live streamed, recorded and published on the Albemarle County website.