The public can have its say at County Industrial Development Agency meetings, but only after the board does its business. | Until recent months, the public could ask questions about applications for benefits during the meeting. But that's no longer the case. The only chance for comment is at the end of the meeting, after the board votes on the applications. The reason: business representatives are put off when their requests are questioned, COMIDA board chair Theresa Mazzullo said during a meeting last week. | "We want them to have a positive experience," she said. | Under the state open meetings law, the board doesn't have to allow public comment at all. | The change angered some COMIDA observers. Brighton Town Board member Ray Tierney - a frequent critic of certain COMIDA tax breaks - tried to protest the change during last week's meeting. After a heated exchange with Tierney, board members allowed him to speak regarding one application. But when he tried to speak about others, members proceeded with business over his objections. | "We all need the ability to speak at the meeting before the project is voted on," Tierney said before the meeting.