Request for Cooperation
In Facilitating More Efficient Council Meetings

After our most recent meeting, which continued into the wee hours of the morning, I have been considering what could be done to facilitate efficient and effective meetings. I request your consideration of the following in the hope that we can work together to accomplish better the business of the City.

I ask that Council members make the effort to read and respond to minutes and financial reports beforehand rather than at meetings. Suggestions re corrections should be made with written notice to all other members and the Clerk. If there is some dispute, this would give the Clerk time to go back and listen again to the actual tape, or to clarify questions about the report. With that resolved we should be able smoothly and harmoniously to approve minutes and reports at the meeting.

I ask that any substantive issue be considered and well prepared beforehand. If Council members or citizens want to ask Council to do anything, I would hope that the alternatives with all available facts be presented in writing a week in advance to Council and posted on the website for citizens’ consideration as well. Then at the meeting, Council members could just ask any unresolved questions of the presenter, briefly discuss the issue, and vote. If the issue is still a quandary at the meeting, I would hope we would delay it until the next meeting and refine it further before then.

I ask that Council members cooperate for the good of the City and communicate courteously at all times. If one has information that has bearing on business before the City, it should be shared with colleagues. The more we all know the better we can serve the City.

I ask that no resolutions, agreements or issues be presented for a vote unless it has been placed on the agenda and the clear wording sent to Council members in writing in advance and posted on the website. The opportunity for consideration in advance supports good decision-making for the City.

I ask that you think hard before putting anything unnecessary on the Council’s agenda. Simple factual questions can easily be answered outside of Council meetings if members are willing to communicate with each other. Agenda suggestions should be given to me a week in advance, so I can get it together in time for the Clerk to prepare materials.

I ask that we put personal animosity aside and remember what we were elected to do. We can best serve the citizens whom we represent if we treat each other courteously and, I would even hope, kindly. In any human discourse there will unfortunately be times of disagreement, misunderstanding, and hurt feelings. Let’s seek to heal negativity rather than inflaming it. It’s unreasonable to think that any group of people will always agree, but we can work together for the good of the City.
Lois Salter