The public right to speak

Commentary

This is what the Middletown charter says about public comment at Council meetings:

The public shall have the right to address the Council regarding matters of public concern.
Subject to the rules of the Council, the public shall have the right to address the Council at
any Council meeting on any item on the agenda for the Council meeting at which they
speak and may address the Council on non-agenda matters of general public concern only
in accordance with provisions established by the Council for such input.

When a quorum (6 members) of the Council meet with the mayor, or deputy mayor present, it's my understanding that it constitutes a council meeting. Calling it a "special" meeting may not allow the council, or the mayor, to prevent public comment. I'm not a lawyer, but I can't find anything in the charter that says a meeting can be held.

I might be wrong on what constitutes a "council meeting" but it's a question worth asking at a time when the mayor will host a special meeting to meet with the Army on the Reserve Training Center. I don't buy the argument that only elected officials ought to be allowed to speak.