Tips for Preparing your Speeches

The Service Hearings Are So Important!

• YOU will be sworn in as a group to “testify” with your comments.
• YOUR comments will be entered into the record as testimony.
• We want to do this EXACTLY the way we did it last time!

Don’t Take It from Us

Here is what Commissioner Clark said at the last hearing in February 2022:

“Today’s hearing is a very important part of the process. In addition to the technical hearing that we held yesterday, the comments that are made in this hearing are going to be transcribed and will become an official part of the record that this Commission will use to ultimately make its decision. And so I want you to know that we take your comments, not only the comments that you are providing today, but the written comments that have been provided to us as well, we take very seriously and take them into consideration.”
—Commissioner Clark

Helpful Hints for Your 3-Minute Speech

We re-read all of the customer testimony from the last hearing and worked up a list of things that helped the customer service hearings make a HUGE impression on the Commissioners.

• Be Prepared: Try to write your speech in advance. Speeches read from notes present much better in the transcripts than off-the-cuff remarks.
• Be Concise: if another customer has said something that you were going to say, just say that you support the remarks made by the previous speaker. You can add your unique points by saying “in addition, I believe…” There is no need for redundant testimony on the same topic.
• Be Brief: If you’re not working off written notes, try not to run over time. You have 3 minutes to speak. The Commission will gently at first, then firmly cut you off.
• Tell Who You Are: Don’t forget to state your name and your Island address. Tell us if you are a full-time resident.
• Add Credibility: Tell us your credentials, it gives your speech extra weight. Everyone who had any training or experience with wastewater, from plumbers to environmental engineers, likely got extra weight in consideration. And yes, statements like “I’ve been living on the Island for 30 years” or “This home has been in my family for three generations” have impact. So don’t be bashful.
• Speak Your Mind: Don’t be thinking about what the most impressive argument might be.
• Make it Personal: Talk about your own experiences and how this impacts you. Don’t be embarrassed if you get emotional. It underscores how important this is to you.
• Make it Relevant: Speak to things like: did the storm impact your septic system? were you able to start recovery right away because you had a septic system and could be at your house? did the hurricane recovery drain your resources? fog your brain? No one wants to deal with sewer after a double disaster.
• Stick to the Facts: You may not be able to “prove” it’s true, but this is what you believe.
• Be Professional: Stay away from angry rants, no personal animosity (even if it’s true!). At the last hearing, the Commission Chair said, “Let’s stay away from the character of the individuals involved, if you don’t mind.” So, let’s do that.
• Bring Copies: If you bring handouts, bring 12 copies and think about if you can substantiate the origin of the handout.

They May Ask You Questions:

Because you are acting as a “witness” in a hearing giving sworn testimony, the attorney for EU and the Commissioners are allowed to ask you questions when you finish. Just answer truthfully, you’re not expected to be an expert witness. Sometimes if the EU attorney asks you questions, it means that you were an effective speaker, and he didn’t like that. Be flattered.

And REMEMBER, these are just suggestions. If everyone follows all of them, we’ll be a dull crowd indeed!

Here’s a sample speech from the last sewer hearings:

Hi. I am [name] and my husband and I live on [address]. And I am requesting that you deny EU’s proposal for a permit, and I just want to say I have dittos for everybody, David, and Jane, and Cheryl, and everybody. Our island is just a special place. We come and go in golf carts. And if we need to go off the island, we use a ferry. So, there is all kinds of disruption if they decide to put a sewer system on, we wouldn’t be able to get on the ferry forever.

There is no need for it. We didn’t ask for it. We got little or no — incomplete information on it. We haven’t been proven that they have any technical expertise, and the rates are just exorbitant.

But my — I guess the little thing I want to add is why are we doing this? Who is it benefiting? We on the island are completely happy. We moved there for our dream, and knowing that we are on a septic system, and we are all really conscious of the environment and want to keep everything the same, all of the animals, and the water, and just the whole environment, and who is this benefiting? It’s not benefiting us.

So that’s what I have to say. So I request you think about all of our letters, and all of our points, and deny EU the permit. Thanks.