Public input is crucial at meetings

Two weeks ago tonight, the Cayuga County Legislature by a 12-3 vote passed over the second of four hurdles to put a county manager in place this year. What is remarkable is the lack of opposition and, more importantly, debate.

One had to listen carefully to what was said by legislators in support of the proposal, at the very poorly attended public hearing Feb. 8. While three of four speakers spoke against the proposal (with one question being asked by someone in attendance), most of their concerns were clearly ignored and unaddressed. Some legislators seemed more focused on just getting to a vote that night.

The issue of a public referendum was referred to over and over again, with the same old response that if the Legislature is not giving up any of its powers, then there is no ability (i.e., read need) to go to the public. One had to hear this excuse only so many times to figure out that some in the Legislature may want to go with what is being proposed because it deliberately leaves out the public.