Public speakers will no longer be shown on the videos of Brevard County Commission meeting

The government can't stop you from speaking. But it doesn't have to broadcast your face on TV as you do so.

That's Brevard County's position anyway.

Public speakers no longer will be shown on the Space Coast Government Television video feeds of Brevard County Commission meetings.

County Communications Director Don Walker, who oversees the government-access television operation, said he implemented the move to make sure the meetings run effectively. That includes making it clearer to Space Coast Government Television viewers watching the meeting which specific agenda item is being discussed by the member of the public.

Walker said the audio of the speakers' comments still will be part of the meeting video, but the images of the speakers will not be shown on the broadcast. Instead, the full screen will show a brief description of the item up for discussion, something that now scrolls across the bottom of the screen when the item is discussed.

The new policy began during last Thursday's County Commission meeting on zoning issues and will continue with Tuesday's regular County Commission meeting.

Some residents and 2024 candidates for County Commission, however, contend that the decision is wrong, and that the change will put a damper on comments by members of the public at commission meetings.

Debate over sports grants: Brevard County grants for Cocoa Beach running events will be reconsidered after Commission kerfuffle

Among the public speakers at Thursday's meeting who were affected by the change was South Patrick Shores resident Sandra Sullivan, who frequently speaks on multiple issues at the County Commission meetings, and sometimes posts videos of her comments on the 1,900-member WAVESaction Facebook page she runs.

After Thursday's meeting, Sullivan posted to Facebook: "What are Brevard commissioners so afraid of that they feel they need to censor our 1st Amendment right? #WeThePeople"

Sullivan said she believes this is "a very serious issue," and that it goes against a County Commission policy that calls for promoting "the maximum participation in county affairs by affected or interested citizens." Sullivan also is concerned that the County Commission sometimes limits speakers' public comment to two minutes apiece, rather than the standard three minutes, which she says reduces the public's access to their elected officials.

Walker said he, and not any commissioner, was responsible for the change in the video procedures, and that he cleared the change with the county attorney's office before implementing it.

"There is no First Amendment right that your face will get shown on TV," Walker said. "We're still being transparent. We're not censoring anything."

But others have concerns about the change, saying it's a bad look for the county.

Katie Delaney, a Republican candidate for County Commission in North Brevard's District 1, said that, "as the people are calling for more transparency, elected officials continue to do things that block transparency, and it's wrong."

Delaney — who said she has addressed the County Commission about a dozen times on various topics — said she has "not been impressed" with how members of the public have been treated by some commissioners when they have different views on a issue.

West Melbourne City Council Member John Dittmore, who is a Republican candidate for County Commission in South Brevard's District 3, said government officials "should be open and transparent," and this move goes against that, by preventing viewers watching the meetings at home from seeing what those in the commission chambers audience see.

Additionally, Dittmore said, "It could have a chilling effect on public speaking."

Dittmore said he knows of no local municipal governments with a similar policy.

Both Dittmore and Delaney said, if they were on the County Commission, they would oppose the decision to not show the speakers on video.

A recent County Commission meeting was somewhat contentious, with some sniping between Sullivan and a few commissioners, including County Commission Chair Jason Steele.

But Steele — who also has had previous run-ins with Sullivan — said he was not behind pushing for the change in the meeting recording procedures.

"I don't have any problem with the change," Steele said. "We're not trying to block public comment."

Steele wonders what difference it makes that there is no video of the speakers, as long as the public comment is recorded.

"There are some people there who just want to hear themselves talk," Steele said. "Why would the general public need to be filmed in the first place? They don't need to be filmed. This isn't a fashion show."

Commissioner John Tobia said he wasn't aware of the change until after Thursday's meeting, when a staff member watching the meeting on Space Coast Government Television told him about it. Tobia said he received a call Friday morning from County Manager Frank Abbate, informing Tobia of the change, which Abbate supported.

"This is clearly a management decision," Tobia said. "This is in the purview of the county manager. I support our county manager."

Tuesday's County Commission meeting is expected to be well-attended with members of the public seeking to make public comments. The agenda includes a discussion of funding for the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and a vote related to tourism sports grants. Additionally, Sullivan is organizing a rally in conjunction with the meeting related to concerns about the county's beach renourishment procedures.

She also expects speakers to address the County Commission about the move to not broadcast video of the public speakers.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County Commission videos will not show images of public speakers