For the second time in as many weeks the Auburn City Council voted on public matters in a manner that sharply limited public participation and input. City officials need to remember that while they are the “people's representatives,” in a representative democracy, decision making should be made with public input - not limiting it through speed.
Two weeks ago the city council, at a special meeting, voted to approve the city's 2006-2007 budget. Most thought that all they would be doing that night would be voting on amendments to the budget, not a final package. There was no reason to vote on the budget then; a regularly scheduled meeting was set two days later, still four days before the deadline to adopt a budget.
Criticism of that process clearly fell on deaf ears Thursday night, when the council, in a 3-2 vote agreed to move forward, in partnership with the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma with their plans to possibly build a casino in Auburn. Most believe that the only item related to this venture on the agenda that night was to hear what the plans where from Seneca-Cayuga Chief Paul Spicer, not a vote to move forward.
Remember that the first time the public heard of this idea was a short 13 days before in a press release sent out by Mayor Timothy C. Lattimore close to 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon.
While Thursday's decision is not binding, it is a clear indication of the disdain that some elected officials seem to have for the public on two fronts.
It has been reported with some 16 speakers on the subject Thursday night, 12, or three-quarters of those who spoke, spoke against the proposal - a clear indication that there are deep divisions on the idea of building a casino in this community.
More importantly, the venture to build a casino in Auburn is not like building a new playground (remember this is a council that has taken months to decide how to handle simple pool repairs at Casey Park). This is a major project that will impact the city and its residents from cultural, economic, infrastructure and social perspectives. It requires more than a quickie vote to commit the resources that will now be used to move this plan forward.
Even with something as minor as a subdivision or doing an environmental impact statement, there is a need to vote one week to hold a public hearing, before holding such a hearing the following week.
Don't the three members (Lattimore and councilors William Graney and Thomas McNabb) who supported moving forward on this not think that more time should have been taken to measure public support and hear more details before making this commitment?
Apparently not.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be e-mailed at cozguytho@aol.com
Criticism of that process clearly fell on deaf ears Thursday night, when the council, in a 3-2 vote agreed to move forward, in partnership with the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma with their plans to possibly build a casino in Auburn. Most believe that the only item related to this venture on the agenda that night was to hear what the plans where from Seneca-Cayuga Chief Paul Spicer, not a vote to move forward.
Remember that the first time the public heard of this idea was a short 13 days before in a press release sent out by Mayor Timothy C. Lattimore close to 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon.
While Thursday's decision is not binding, it is a clear indication of the disdain that some elected officials seem to have for the public on two fronts.
It has been reported with some 16 speakers on the subject Thursday night, 12, or three-quarters of those who spoke, spoke against the proposal - a clear indication that there are deep divisions on the idea of building a casino in this community.
More importantly, the venture to build a casino in Auburn is not like building a new playground (remember this is a council that has taken months to decide how to handle simple pool repairs at Casey Park). This is a major project that will impact the city and its residents from cultural, economic, infrastructure and social perspectives. It requires more than a quickie vote to commit the resources that will now be used to move this plan forward.
Even with something as minor as a subdivision or doing an environmental impact statement, there is a need to vote one week to hold a public hearing, before holding such a hearing the following week.
Don't the three members (Lattimore and councilors William Graney and Thomas McNabb) who supported moving forward on this not think that more time should have been taken to measure public support and hear more details before making this commitment?
Apparently not.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be e-mailed at cozguytho@aol.com