HOULTON – Town councilors took strongly opposing views Monday about whether meeting agendas should include time for them to make general comments about items not on the agenda.

The proposal to eliminate the councilor remarks time from future agendas came May 4 during a daylong council retreat.

Some councilors at that session felt that meetings were too long and that cutting out the comment time would make the sessions shorter and more productive.

“My goal is not to delete anyone from making comments or remarks,” said Chairman Dale Flewelling. “Maybe it’s better to put an item on the agenda for discussion.”

Councilor Michael Carpenter, who was unable to attend the retreat, opposed the idea. He said it provided councilors with an opportunity to respond to unfounded comments made by the public during the public comment portion of meetings.

“I’m going to speak at each and every meeting, if I have something to say,” he said.

Councilor Gerry Adams, who also could not attend the retreat, also opposed the idea.

“What kind of council would eliminate their own right to speak?” he asked. “I’ve heard of gag orders, but this is ridiculous.”

Other councilors, however, targeted Carpenter and Adams as the biggest abusers of the remarks time.

“It’s used sometimes to blindside people,” Councilor Rick Goodwin said to Carpenter, adding that he felt discussion items should be placed on the agenda so that everyone knew what was going on.

“If you guys had been there [at the retreat,] you’d have had a chance to respond, too,” he said, adding that sometimes Carpenter used the comment time to criticize Town Manager Peggy Daigle.

Councilor Kent Good said he didn’t think the councilor remarks time served any good purpose and tended to drag meetings out.

He went on to accuse Adams of making comments at a previous council meeting that tended to “incite fear and panic” in the public over the issue of asbestos at a fire cleanup site downtown.

Daigle said that during the retreat, part of the session included a review of councilors’ roles and duties.

“Meetings were not rated very high or productive,” she said at Monday’s meeting. “As manager, I need to know why.”

She said it was that question from her that prompted the suggestion from councilors at the retreat that the councilor remarks portion of meetings be eliminated.