UPDATE: It seems the Argus Ed Board agrees, don’t move public input.

These are the original Council Meetings (1st and 2nd readings) when public input was moved. It was sponsored by Councilors Kevin Kavanaugh and Curtis Rust. There was ZERO discussion on 1st and 2nd readings, and ALL 8 councilors voted for it. Kevin basically said, “We are here to do the public’s business. We should hear from them first.”

Funny how a good idea had NO opposition when passed 16 years ago. Just another reason why it needs to be left alone.

Minutes, etc, from meetings: 08192001 Minutes – Item 24 Minutes 09032002 – Item 18 Ord 68-02

FF 57:00 (1st Reading)

FF 2:30:00 (2nd Reading) If you go to end of the meeting, where Public Input used to be, you will see Cathy and Melanie Bliss thank the council for moving it, and Mayor Munson apologizes to them for having to wait in the past.

8 Thoughts on “UPDATE: Why Public Input was moved to the beginning

  1. D@ily Spin on June 15, 2018 at 9:41 am said:

    This was back when city government was democracy, before Strong Mayor Charter. The city had 50 million in debt instead of half a billion. Carnegie Hall is still the same furniture and carpet. There was no SIRE that never works. Ah, the good old days before Huether. It was a time when the mayor didn’t jail or assault citizens. A time when tennis was enjoyed outdoors. When July 4th was Independence Day and not named for Mike Huether.

  2. Andy Howes on June 15, 2018 at 10:00 am said:

    This was an absolute no-brainer when we voted on it 16 years ago and worked incredibly well during my time on the City Council. Prior to that, making people wait to the end simply didn’t work. Any perceived problems now have nothing to do with public input being first, it’s with how its been handled by elected officials. We also had weekly repeat speakers then (which is fine) and things never deteriorated into such a spectacle that moving public input to the end of the meeting was ever even suggested. That’s because of how the meeting was managed, and how the speakers were treated. If something has worked pretty well for 16 years the issue isn’t the format.

  3. l3wis on June 15, 2018 at 10:23 am said:

    DS – The Charter changed under Hanson before Munson. Also, I don’t think SIRE existed 16 years ago. They had to make us a DVD from a VHS tape to get this.

    AH – Exactly. I told Paul before the election that the chair must take control of the meeting and that Rolfing and Huether would mock the commenters.

  4. The Guy from Guernsey on June 15, 2018 at 11:55 am said:

    Testify Brother Howes!

  5. scott on June 15, 2018 at 5:23 pm said:

    has rex called pth and told him to show some respect and put on a tie yet?

  6. “What goes around comes around”….. This no tie policy is reminiscent of Knobes leisure suits…. And with Chuck Taylors replacing the ‘Cousin Eddie’ white shoes too…..

  7. Cathy B on June 15, 2018 at 10:18 pm said:

    I couldn’t resist watching when I noticed I was on there explaining the increase in the food tax that was about to happen. It was nice to be able to have Q&A with the councilors.

  8. Cathy B on June 15, 2018 at 10:21 pm said:

    Also I noticed that my input happened over 2 and a half hours into the meeting, and Melanie’s even later. We’re not as young as we were then and appreciate getting to give input at the beginning now. Hope it stays there.

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