AUBURN -- Two approved votes will reform future Auburn City Council meetings, but one of the most talked about issues -- to televise or not -- has yet to be resolved.

Last week, the council met in the third-floor room for its first work session of the year, without a camera to capture it for home viewers.

The council does not have to formally vote whether to tape the work sessions, rather reach a consensus, City Manager Mark Palesh said. A camera still will roll during business meetings.

The council passed Thursday two resolutions that revised its meeting schedule.

Councilors Matt Smith and David Dempsey spoke in favor of continuing the TV service every Thursday. Smith wavered on the issue, but made up his mind last week during the non-televised work session regarding water loss, he said.

Department heads and presenters can explain things better than councilors can, Smith explained. During the work session he realized people would understand issues better if they saw the presentation for themselves rather than via second-hand accounts.

He recognized some meetings have not been "orderly," but lauded Palesh's presence for changing that.

In the past, Mayor Timothy Lattimore has spoken for transparency in city hall, including televising all meetings. He voiced support Thursday for Smith's idea to keep cameras.

However, he and Palesh discussed the idea of spending the work sessions at different locations around the city, such as the Boyle Center or Hoopes Park, Lattimore said.

Councilor William Graney said he would accept Palesh's advisement, who earlier proposed working without cameras during the informal sessions.

For the complete story, read Friday's edition of The Citizen