Since Monday is Martin Luther King Day a holiday, the next
Council business meeting will take place on Tuesday. There is been much
criticism from some bloggers and many commentators about the matter in which
freshman Council President Rivers conducted the meeting on Monday.
Although Council President Rivers previously had experience
as chairperson of a civic board meeting; understand that that was the Board of
Education; a body which has not distinguished itself in following order and openness.
In that respect it is now hoped that both the Council President and the Chairperson
of the Committee as a Whole familiarize themselves with both the Council rules
and also Roberts Parliamentarian Rules of Order. If she has any problems and
needs help the Council can appoint an official parliamentarian for advice; who
may be the City Clerk or even a nonmember of the Council. If they do so the
meetings should run smoothly.
Unfortunately, since Corporation Counsel by the nature of his
appointments can have a conflict of interest in making some rulings, he should
not be the official parliamentarian.
It is up to the Council President to assure that personality
issues do not cloud any discussion. However, the Council President must
permit any Councilor the right of discussion at an appropriate time during the
meeting.
If the Councils to function as it should, the Council
Presidency must suppress any bias it may have and remain neutral and in any
politically tainted subject. The President does have the right and the
obligation to preparing the agenda and can delete any item from appearing on
the official agenda. Diplomacy would suggest that at least some of the Councilors have been appraised of such action before the meeting.
On the other hand we must remember that the Agenda Fixing Session
unlike the business meeting is to be informal
so as to permit an open expression of ideas.
Also to be remembered is the public’s Right, which should be
guaranteed in the Council Rules, for prior comments about agenda discussions. Also, the public has a
right of free expression at the end of the meeting. Any questions asked of
members of the administration or even Council must be answered promptly an openly
unless they are a strictly personal to that individual's problem
I am sure that the omission of the pre-business public
comments from Monday’s agenda was not intentional but just an oversight by both
by both the City Clerk and Council President.
There is no doubt that the 2013 Council will carry Council
President Rivers' imprint as it should. I expect that any roughness exhibited last
Monday will be a thing of the past.In that respect I must note that the Council President has reached out to myself and I assume others as to advice in conducting the meetings. We all will be happy for any potential aid we can offer which may help make this a positive Council year.
As one of the greatest presidents of the 20th century;
Harry Truman [Yes a Democrat] remarked “if you can’t stand the heat get out of
the kitchen”.
Well put, Doc. I should add that I walked out of the meeting during Mapp's tirade, not because of what he said, because I agree with most of it, but because his hypocrisy and, yes, grandstanding, just makes me ill. Who knows, maybe a Lone Ranger will ride in and save the day yet.
ReplyDeleteThere's at least one gentleman I know of with no ties to the new or old democrats who is as far as I know of impeccable character, who will be running as an independent candidate next mayoral election.We need some fresh blood in local politics.
ReplyDeletePlease who is he. Will he be announcing his candidacy shortly. He needs to speak up now so Plainfield can rally behind him.
ReplyDeleteRenee
They'd have to be rich to ride in and save the day Alan... Union County Dem's like knowing they have Plainfield exactly where they want it...dependable votes with zero expectations.
ReplyDelete