Jackson Free Press

(Also posted here.)

Picture this: You go to a city council meeting to address an issue you have about a problem in your neighborhood. Although you find out that public comments are given at the end of the meeting, you decide to be patient and wait.

Three hours (and some parking meter change) later, it is now your turn to address the council. Unfortunately, by the time you get to the podium, five or six council members have stepped out of the room, and many of the audience members left early since they could only handle sitting in those wooden seats for 90 minutes. Therefore, when you address the council, you feel like you're talking to the nearest wall.

Wake Up Jackson Civic Association is currently lobbying the City Council to have the public comments portion moved to the beginning of the meeting, with time limits of course, so that all council and audience members will have an opportunity to hear what concerned citizens of Jackson have to say about a particular issue. We are currently aiming for 30 minutes of time for public comments to keep them from taking over the meeting, with three minutes for the citizens to make the comment and two minutes for the council to address the citizen, which is a total of five minutes.

What is your take on this? Do you agree or disagree with what we're trying to do? Do you have any suggestions for us?

Previous Comments

ID

115527

Comment

I agree with it. After all, government--whether its local, state or federal--works for us and is obliged to get the input of its citizens.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-11-06T13:47:24-06:00

ID

115528

Comment

Great idea L.W. One other consideration is to start docking the pay for those Council members who leave befor the meeting is over. There is absolutely no accountability for missed meetings or leaving early. How many jobs have you heard of or have you seen that you can come and go at your own free will? Kenny, Tillman and Bluntson have been absent for all meetings involving issue with melton and if they are there, they are like franks parrots with echolalia.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-11-06T14:15:18-06:00

ID

115529

Comment

I agree. I've been one of those citizens who waited until the last button on Gabriel's coat popped. This will bring up another issue that you may want to consider as well. Some time ago, citizen resolutions (those given to honor local citizens) were moved to the end of the agenda in order to honor time constraints. Citizens who are waiting to receive their resolution will still have to wait untill the end of often endless meetings while public comment would be up first. Just something else to consider as you're crafting your lobbying effort for the council.

Author

BuyJxn

Date

2007-11-06T16:04:43-06:00

ID

115530

Comment

BuyJxn, an idea that came up during our meeting with DR. McLemore is that the council could hold separate ceremonial meetings once a month just for resolutions, awards, etc. This is done in other cities.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-13T12:10:52-06:00

ID

115531

Comment

Unless they are televised Stokes will oppose the idea.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-11-13T12:15:32-06:00

ID

115532

Comment

Jeff, that is something the council could work out with PEG if they can get the meetings shorter, I'm sure. We talked to Mr. Weill today, and he seems receptive to some sort of change that would make the meetings more efficient. We agreed that if the meetings could be shorter and flowed better, even if the public comments couldn't be moved, it would still be an improvement.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-13T17:37:01-06:00

ID

115533

Comment

I think it's a great idea given how long Jackson's council meetings have become. I'm all for honoring citizens and making proclaimations, but if it can be done once a month during a ceremonial meeting I think it would help streamline the regular Council business meetings.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2007-11-14T08:02:39-06:00

ID

115534

Comment

Jeff, another idea for ceremonial stuff was that if they did not want to do a separate meeting, each councilman could take turns with proclamations, etc. at each regular meeting. One meeting for Ward 1, the next for Ward 2, and so on.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-11-14T08:16:35-06:00

ID

115535

Comment

Did anyone see the horrible little tantrum kenny threw last week? He and little frankie just love to cuss in public, don't they? Isn't there LAW on the books against that? This is one of many reasons Jackson is a laughingstock right now. Such a shame.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-11-14T08:32:53-06:00

ID

115536

Comment

And classy.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-11-14T11:48:19-06:00