Policy or Pandering?
I thought I'd throw this out, without extraneous comment, to begin a new, and one would hope, more philosophical thread. I'm told by one of his closest advisors that Jeff Gahan, president of the New Albany City Council, has proposed an open forum to discuss the city's sanitation issues.
It is not a public hearing. It is not a council workshop. It does not address pending council business.
So here's the issue: If it's not policy, is it pandering? If this is a campaign event, is it proper to hold it in the city council chamber? Or, should it be held at some other available site?
Further, how should Mr. Gahan conduct this forum? Should he make arrangements to have a recording secretary or other documentary record system? Will he make findings afterward? Will he share these findings and opposing views in any kind of report to council and the public? Are there to be invited speakers to represent various views of the issues? Will Mr. Gahan arrange for law enforcement or other security to maintain control of the gathering? Would you guess the forum will be contentious and angry, or calm and reasoned?
Your thoughts....?
It is not a public hearing. It is not a council workshop. It does not address pending council business.
So here's the issue: If it's not policy, is it pandering? If this is a campaign event, is it proper to hold it in the city council chamber? Or, should it be held at some other available site?
Further, how should Mr. Gahan conduct this forum? Should he make arrangements to have a recording secretary or other documentary record system? Will he make findings afterward? Will he share these findings and opposing views in any kind of report to council and the public? Are there to be invited speakers to represent various views of the issues? Will Mr. Gahan arrange for law enforcement or other security to maintain control of the gathering? Would you guess the forum will be contentious and angry, or calm and reasoned?
Your thoughts....?
posted by All4Word at 9:42 AM
3 Comments:
It would have made one helluva symposium topic at our local booksellers had time allowed.
Has Mr. Gahan released any sort of explanation for his forum? Any press?
I'll answer my own question. According to the 'Bune today, CM Gahan is hosting the meeting on Wednesday in an attempt to avoid the spectacle of public protest during the public communications portion of Monday night's regular meeting. I suppose this is as close to an official version as we're likely to get.
Also in the 'Bune today, point/counterpoint about the sanitation partnership is offered by the Mayor and a union rep.
The local union president did a pretty good job with his remarks. Good closing, made in a civil way. I didn't see any new solutions, but only a plea that the departments be managed in a way to "yield enough revenue to retain the current sanitation department."
But if Mr. Thompson's strongest argument is helping the infirm and elderly get their cans to the curb, or followup pickups, it falls a little short of compelling. I doubt that ID will do this, at least not in the same way, but we don't know they won't.
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