I understand that the intent is that in the event that witnesses are unable to make it to the committee and are held back for some urgent or last-minute reason, this is to be able to have the chance to hear from them. This would not be a votable submission.
Pardon me. That was a misunderstanding on my part. It is actually so that if all the members are not here at the beginning of the meeting, but the witnesses are, we would be able to begin the meeting and begin to hear from the witnesses while waiting for members to arrive.