Six Cleveland City Council members back creating a time for public speaking at meetings Robert Higgs, cleveland.com, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - Six members of Cleveland City Council have called for creating a time for public speaking during council meetings to let people directly address their government. A grassroots organization has drafted legislation that would establish a public speaking time, something the council has never had. The legislation also would expand public speaking at committee meetings. “You’ve got a right to petition your government,” Councilman Kerry McCormack said Friday. Residents often access that government through their council representative, but allowing public speaking would provide a greater connection and greater transparency of government, he said.