In a stunning move, the Auburn City Council unanimously passed a resolution last Tuesday to change its meeting time from 5 p.m., to 9 a.m., effective this Thursday, May 19.
In recent memory, there may not be an example of such an unparalleled act of arrogance for the convenience of the elected over the needs of the public.
It is all the more unbelievable for the change to occur just prior to the adoption of a city budget that, at this point, may see an 8.9 percent tax increase and a rise of 18 percent in sewer rates. The best way to avoid the public's involvement is to make it hard for them to complain and/or offer suggestions for cuts by holding council sessions at times the vast majority of the public cannot attend, because they work.
Of course this works for members of council. Three are retirees and two can set their own hours because of the type of businesses they are in. One official suggested that people could come to these meetings before they go to work, as if employers are going to freely give employees such time off on a regular basis.
The disdain the five members of council seem to have for the public is unbelievable. Yet it is in keeping with their attitude of behind-the-scenes decision making (questionable executive sessions that deal with policy issues and not specific personnel) and unresponsiveness to the public when it comes to their desire for information.
Recently the city council slid from the long-standard 6 p.m. meeting time, to the less convenient 5 p.m. and now to 9 a.m.
Almost every other public entity, whether it is the county, local school boards or other public boards, meet at 7 p.m. or later, not for the convenience of the people who serve, but the public that may want to be heard. This council resolution was tagged onto the end of a budget works session with no notice to the public. The resolution may be in violation of council's own rules of procedure, since such resolutions usually require it being put on the agenda in advance or require a special vote to allow it to be put on the agenda in the first place.
The mayor and city council may suggest that if people can't come to their 9 a.m. meetings, they can, of course, watch them re-broadcast on Friday and Monday nights. Televising sessions should not be used as a means to diminish participation, but to expand understanding.
The Gang of Five continually complains about the lack of public participation in their deliberations, but their continual moves to shrink the windows of opportunity for such participation is its own self-fulfilling prophecy.
With city government's focus on the needs of those who serve instead of those who are to be served, one can expect little else than more of this type of behavior.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn. He can be e-mailed at cozguytho@aol.com
It is all the more unbelievable for the change to occur just prior to the adoption of a city budget that, at this point, may see an 8.9 percent tax increase and a rise of 18 percent in sewer rates. The best way to avoid the public's involvement is to make it hard for them to complain and/or offer suggestions for cuts by holding council sessions at times the vast majority of the public cannot attend, because they work.
Of course this works for members of council. Three are retirees and two can set their own hours because of the type of businesses they are in. One official suggested that people could come to these meetings before they go to work, as if employers are going to freely give employees such time off on a regular basis.
The disdain the five members of council seem to have for the public is unbelievable. Yet it is in keeping with their attitude of behind-the-scenes decision making (questionable executive sessions that deal with policy issues and not specific personnel) and unresponsiveness to the public when it comes to their desire for information.
Recently the city council slid from the long-standard 6 p.m. meeting time, to the less convenient 5 p.m. and now to 9 a.m.
Almost every other public entity, whether it is the county, local school boards or other public boards, meet at 7 p.m. or later, not for the convenience of the people who serve, but the public that may want to be heard. This council resolution was tagged onto the end of a budget works session with no notice to the public. The resolution may be in violation of council's own rules of procedure, since such resolutions usually require it being put on the agenda in advance or require a special vote to allow it to be put on the agenda in the first place.
The mayor and city council may suggest that if people can't come to their 9 a.m. meetings, they can, of course, watch them re-broadcast on Friday and Monday nights. Televising sessions should not be used as a means to diminish participation, but to expand understanding.
The Gang of Five continually complains about the lack of public participation in their deliberations, but their continual moves to shrink the windows of opportunity for such participation is its own self-fulfilling prophecy.
With city government's focus on the needs of those who serve instead of those who are to be served, one can expect little else than more of this type of behavior.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn. He can be e-mailed at cozguytho@aol.com
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