Mayor to public speakers: Watch the time.

The mayor plans to limit the time people speak, but will it work?

Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford told the Dispatch that starting with the Aug. 5 city council meeting, people will be cut off from speaking at five minutes during an official public hearing, and during public comment, at three minutes.

Police approach Angela “Diogenes” Kaufman while she was speaking during the “no camping” law public hearing, July 2, 2025. Kaufman spoke for about 30 minutes before police arrested her. (Video still image: Steve Thurston).

It’s an attempt to maintain order and discipline at public meetings.

“The fact that we allow people to speak is part of our charter, but it's also a privilege, and we can set rules for that,” the mayor said, adding later that he is confident of the legality of the situation.

“We can expect people to be civil and to agree with the rules so that everyone has an opportunity to speak,” Safford said. “That's the problem when you have people who take over the microphone. It stops other people from being able to express their opinion.

“It’s just not fair,”

Will there be disruption?