Saturday, July 28, 2007
More on White Salmon Town Hall Meetings: Why Didn't Councilors Come?
Anonymous sent this to the editors:
I have been waiting for someone to refute the following: "The problem with more council members showing up as opposed to just Ricky is that you end up (by law I believe) having a council meeting and must adhere to their procedures, of which is what I assume you guys were trying to get away from. So really, in t he interest of free flowing exchanges of idea, wasn't it best for you that none of the other council members showed up? But again I am not sure what your CONCERNS are, other than not being heard.........that means there are issues you want the council to hear and those issues are what I am trying to get from you."
But no one has. First a town hall meeting as advertised for discussion (no decision making) and is allowable for everyone to attend. Hog wash on all this bull.... from the city attorney about no more than 2 councilors at a time or it is a meeting. No, decision making was not a part of the process. Check with other authorities such as MRSC, and other local attorneys. Do you not believe that this was researched before the meeting was called? Relying on "the attorney's advice" is a remark the council members need to remove from their vocabulary and begin to think for themselves. Perhaps the city could be in better shape than it is, financially, comprehensive plan, (now years out of date) zoning wise, water hookups, (they'll sue, the lawyers that violated the codes in the first place) short plates, variances, and yes, the police situation that is yet to be decided. Second, special to this remark, "interest of free flowing exchanges of idea, wasn't it best for you that none of the other council members showed up?" The answer is NO. Council members needed to witness honesty, truth and proper exchange of ideas. Third, what a brush off, "Your Concerns- not being heard-- Get from you?" The councilors elected in 2005 have proven to be a huge disappointment! Thanks, Ricky, I believe your point was made with this latest policy, mandate, whatever it is that will happen at 5 p.m. before the formal council meetings. A rather illogical time. Well, it is a set up for failure with poor planning.
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5 comments:
Little Fish,
It looks like the council heard you loud and clear....what is your opinion of the public round table discussions that will be held before council meetings? This seems like a good start don't you think?
Beatledawg
Hey Beatledawg, what time do you get off work, How long does it take you to get from your job home, how long does it take you to clean up?? The round table begins at 5p.m. many people don't get off work before 5. If they have concerns they want to express they have to take off work. Retirees no prob. but the working class are the ones who do have problems.
Blue Bell
jeez blue hell can't you ever come up with something positive? maybe it'll be easier for someone to stop by the fire station on their way home from work to express an opinion for 10 minutes rather than go home & have to turn around to come back for a meeting. think how much gas someone might save & still be home for dinner with their family. get a grip instead of a gripe!
Ok Beatledawg I do agree this was a step in the right direction. I am seeing positive steps too.
Blue Bell
OK, Little Fish, here is your refutation on the legality of a quorum of the City Council attending a round table meeting: Try, before you make that kind of accusation, checking out the law. The Open Public Meetings Act, RCW 42.30.020 speaks not only of "decisions" being made, but also any "receipt of public testimony, deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews, evaluations and final actions". So, if a quorum of the City Council were present, almost any discussion about almost anything that is relevant to the city of White Salmon could fall under that definition. Not only final action, but discussion. And if, subsequently, the City Council were to make a decision or pass an ordinance to deal with any such matter, it could be subject to legal challenge because part of the deliberations could be argued to have occurred in an improper meeting. Not to mention that each Council member is subject to a fine for participating.
So, give Ricky Marx whatever credit he deserves for organizing the meeting, but if you want to have all the City Council members listen to your complaints you are going to have to go to the City Council meetings.
If people really are interested in the well-being of White Salmon (and I know there are many, many who are), I just wonder how they can believe they are making a positive contribution to this community by making unsubstantiated, uninformed, often slanderous accusations, anonymously in a blog. Stand up and speak your piece, in a City Council meeting or otherwise. Be enough of an adult to put your name on it. Have the maturity to respect the fact that other people can have different opinions without attacking them personally. And have the maturity to understand that everyone on the City Council, Ricky Marx included, is trying to make a positive contribution to their community - - - and they don't deserve personal attacks from everyone. Be positive, not a complainer.
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