The Butler County Democratic Committee on Thursday requested the county commissioners restore a second public comment session at meetings.

Committee member Dave Kerr of Lancaster Township read a resolution passed by the committee May 13 making the request.

“We do not view this to be a partisan issue,” Kerr said. “It is rather an issue about democracy itself. The ideals of democracy, individual expression and public access to government are equally precious to both the Democratic and Republican parties.”

Under the current policy, county residents have the opportunity to speak three minutes about any county issue at the beginning of voting meetings.

For the last few years, there were two comment sessions. The first was for speaking on agenda items with the second reserved for county topics not listed on the agenda.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said in an interview there would be little likelihood that the second comment period would return.

“I would not be in favor of doing it,” McCarrier said.

During the meeting, Slippery Rock Councilman Itzi Meztli agreed there should be two public comment periods, calling the change “bad policy.”

Beverly Schenck, former Center Township supervisor, said she has no problem with meetings having only one comment period, but the allotted time to speak should be extended to five minutes.

“Three minutes is not enough time,” she said.

When the commissioners cut the second comment period earlier this month, Commissioner Bill McCarrier said the move would shorten meetings because the same people were speaking twice at meetings.

Schenck said the length of meetings was not due to public comment, but rather the commissioners.

“It’s the attack(s) on each other that’s extending the meetings,” she said.