Public meetings and proper etiquette. A refresher in Lake Worth Beach.

The City Commission meets tonight (Tues., April 2nd at 6:00) for a regularly scheduled public meeting in City Hall. In preparation for this public meeting are two scenarios.

One is the dreaded ‘open mic’ (Situation #1) and the other is from Mr. Joshua Borgmann about, “The 4 things you need to know for good meeting etiquette” (Situation #2). Borgmann provides a short video demonstrating these very helpful tips.


Without further ado. . .

Situation #1.

You’re in a very important meeting and a 10-minute break is called. But you might need more than 10 minutes. What do you do?

I hope this information below is helpful, especially for those who may find themselves in an awkward situation, so you don’t have to worry about ever reading a quote like this:

“We’re not running a cruise line here”.

—Quote by District 1 Commissioner
Scott Maxwell. 

This quote by Maxwell is from December 2016 at a City Commission meeting and was quite the moment. Towards the end of the meeting Mayor Pam Triolo called for a 10-minute break and everyone left the dais. After the ten minute break everyone returned, except for former-Commissioner Ryan Maier.

After a while, frustrated that Maier wasn’t answering the call to return over the loudspeaker, Maxwell said, “We’re not running a cruise line here”, to the City Clerk.

Maxwell wasn’t aware the mic was still on!

Oooops. Everyone in City Hall heard what Maxwell said including everyone watching the meeting at home Live Streaming. Eventually word got to Maier that the meeting was not over. Eventually he did return, without an explanation for his absence, and the meeting resumed.

So! If you think you need more than the stated break time make sure to let the Chair of the meeting know. And always check to make sure the mic is not on as well.

Situation #2.

Do you think you need a refresher about meeting etiquette, paying attention to the clock?

Below are some quick tips from Mr. Borgmann “so you don’t look stupid”! From Mr. Joshua Borgmann are these four very important etiquette tips:


“First, to be on time. [emphasis added] Second, make instructions. Third, have a strong agenda. And lastly, stay off your phone and sit at the appropriate height of everyone else in the meeting so you don’t look stupid.”

Enjoy the video and hope you found
this information helpful!