Every month
with justification I complain about the absence of a Public Comments spot at
the Agenda Fixing meeting before the resolutions and ordinances are presented
for consideration.
This was a valuable although time consuming segment of that session first introduced by Annie McWilliams. It gave the people to ability to impact on the Councilor’s acceptance of items for voting. Often negative factors that had been overlooked did prevent bad legislation from being place on the floor. The short session at the business meeting is most of the time too close to influence preconceived opinions.
Unfortunately,
perhaps because of the format for the meeting as prescribed in the Municipal Code; this important tool as been
missing this year. The only vehicle for outsiders to call attention to errors
or inappropriate legislation is in direct communication or publicly in the
blogs.
That is why
Ordinance MC 2013-06 which amends and supplements various portions of
Plainfield’s Municipal Code dealing with (a) the Council President-(description),
(b) the duties of the Council President, (c) sections devoted to regular
meeting and the agenda meeting(d) as well as the “order of business at these
meetings. Is important and should be enacted.
Much of the
changes eliminated excessive verbiage that are restrictive and replaces where needed
with language that permits the Council to better perform its duties. Thus replacing
“the 2nd Monday of the month” as the legal business meeting date by
giving the Council the right to set the dates for its meetings as long as there
is one business meeting a month gives flexibility in adopting the schedule in January.
The
restrictive format for the meetings is eliminated and the Council President
will have the right to set the format with the Council’s approval. The public
comment period can now legally be part of the agenda session if the Council is
willing. Yes even the superfluous flag pledge and prayer can be dispensed with.
Neither contributes anything to the business on hand.
The Resolution
(Z7) regarding the preservation of the Lambkin house merits serious
consideration this time. There is a long range plan to follow that will only be
an asset to a community that needs upgrading. The transfers of vacant and
condemned properties to the redeveloper who now has the deed on the Lampkin
site will increase taxables.
There are
three resolutions refunding tax payments to a total of about 85K for 2012-13
paid by lien holders on properties that were “bellied in error on Tax Exempt
Property identified as ;1247-71 South Ave,1213-33 South Ave, and 1007-11 Park
Ave( Park Madison/County?).
An explanation
of why and when these properties were taken off the tax rolls is needed.
"Neither contributes to the business at hand"; sad commentary. Even if one believes that prayer is a futility because there is no recipient the prayer nevertheless conveys a desire for the success of common purpose. The purpose being the forthcoming matters. It is an interlude, a very brief interlude, in which religious and irreligious might reflect on comity contrasted with conflict. For those who have faith in Divine intervention it can provide an optimism, optimism being a healthy component of living. As to the Pledge: There is no compulsion to take it. It s an option under our form of government. An option that historically was not available in many societies, and which remains compulsory in others to this day. Having traveled and having been so fortunate to have lived in the greatest period of American History, at least with regard to prosperity of the population, and even though that prosperity in a large measure has been squandered with remediation is uncertain, it is my conviction that it is a privilege to repeat the oath publicly. Beyond that, there are certain mores, threads of commonality that are the glue of a people, of a society. Apple pie, baseball, motherhood, firecrackers on the 4th of July, singing the National Anthem, a common language, and yes, offering the Pledge of Allegiance at public gatherings. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteBill, To know that there is a reader on the 90% Sunday in a long Holiday weekend makes using time to post a blog not only worthwhile but self satisfying. Especially if that individual would take the time to post a thoughtful critical comment that merits a response.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is neither adequate space here nor the potential for a long dissertation on why I as a cynic consider both superfluous.I would like, unless you object, to use your commentary as the basis for an annotative blog. This would be asap depending local factors ,my present project,and earthshaking events.