The Selma City Council meetings are far too long, lasting at least two hours, sometimes more.

One of the reasons for this is the length of time given people to speak for the public portion of the agenda. It’s early in the meeting. Everyone is feeling feisty and wants to get their points across. So they do — for more than the allotted five minutes. Many of the speakers do not have a council request, they get up to the podium (and to the radio audience) to pontificate, instead of petition their government.

Speaking at the council meetings is a privilege. It carries with it a responsibility. Say what you said you would say and sit down.

Better yet, perhaps the council should take this in hand. A look at the old ordinance published in Oct. 4, 2004, shows the order of business as a citizens’ reports coming last in the order of business. That’s correct. The order of business: call to order; prayer; roll call; reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting; mayor’s report; city attorney’s report; reports of standing committees and citizens’ report.

The ordinance also holds debate on issues to three minutes with council members having no more than twice to speak. This also would cut back on the time.

Current conduct on the board and by citizens who get long-winded do nothing to further the business of the city. What happens is people preen before the radio audience and their friends who happen to sit in the audience. Once the piece is spoken back and forth, most people leave.

For instance, Tuesday night started with a packed house. By the agenda’s end, less than a half dozen people remained in the audience.

The city’s business is important; there’s no doubt about it, but there’s a time and place for everything.

The council president and president pro-tem need to take matters in hand. Time is money.