Last night's Town Council meeting was a textbook example of why the standard Agenda needs to be re-ordered to be citizen friendly (as well as being provided in a manner that meets the
letter and intent of FOIA laws).
Citizens who come to Town Council meetings arrive at 7:30pm, the traditional starting time. Some meetings actually start at 7:30pm; many, like last night, start much later -
after joint public hearings and breaks for Planning Commission sessions. (
The fact that the public is not reminded that they are welcome to attend those Planning Commission break-out sessions is another issue.)
Finally, after agenda items had been dealt with (including a resolution allocating portions of future town meals and lodging taxes to the county for an unstated period of time to allow more development) and most citizens attending had trickled away,
the Town Manager gave his report.
Add this process to not having agendas being available much in advance, and the public remains unaware of council's actions. Unpredictable meeting start times inconvenience residents and further put-off citizens who do wish to attend Town Council meetings. After FOIA training, everyone knows that a copy of all material provided to council members is to be made available at these meetings, but this is an item that seems to have been tabled.
Mystery scheduling discourages public participation. You may remember that a Christiansburg resident
patiently waited the better part of 2 hours for public hearings and break-out sessions before he addressed Council during the "Citizens Hearings" portion of the May 5 meeting.
Town Council meetings do not have to be run this way.What if Town Council meetings were ordered in a manner that enables the most participation by residents. After all we are talking about the TOWN's council, not a council who happens to live in the town.
A logical agenda is:
1. Call to order, Pledge of Allegiance and approval of minutes.
2. Town Manager's report.
3. Citizens' Hearings.
4. If needed, Recess meeting for Joint Public Hearings and Planning Commission sessions.
5. Discussions and actions by Mayor and Council members.
6. Adjourn.
The Town's Council should
give the most citizens the greatest opportunity to hear about the day to day operations of the Town (the Town Manager's report) and to learn about what their fellow citizens feel is important.