NEWSLETTER
7/10/2009
CITY HALL
The Fruitland City Council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The usual staff meeting will be held in the conference room at 7:00 p.m. to review the agenda with Council members. A draft copy of the agenda is enclosed for Council members review. The minutes of the June 9 meeting will be distributed when available.
The next meeting of the Lower Eastern Shore Mayors’ Association will be hosted by the Town of Berlin on Thursday, July 16, 2009 on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at the Hotel Atlantic. Any City Council member wishing to attend should let me know by Monday, July 13.
RECREATION COMMISSION
There will be no Recreation Commission meeting this month.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Major construction work has been completed on the Salisbury-Fruitland water distribution system inter connect project.
Field service staff repaired a defective water service line beneath 103 Williams Ave.
Staff completed exterior painting of the “Texas Roadhouse” pump station and ground clearing of the Clyde Ave - Covered Bridge Lane utility right of way.
Congratulations to Dominic Dilegge at the WWTP for his successful completion of the Class 5 MDE.
The bid opening for the Infiltration and Inflow Reduction project for our sanitary sewer collection system took place on Tuesday, July 7. This project is fueled by grant funds and is the second phase of this infiltration and inflow work. Bid details and award recommendation shall be presented at the Tuesday, July 14 City Council meeting.
OTHER
Birthday wishes are extended to City Clerk Diane Nelson (July 16). May you have many more.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
The year was 1925. In Dayton, Tennessee the so-called “Monkey Trial” begins with John Thomas Scopes, a high school science teacher teaching evolution in violation of Tennessee law. The law made it a misdemeanor to teach any theory that denies the story of Devine Creation. Scopes was found guilty.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
"..The usual staff meeting in the conference room at 7 p.m. to review the agenda with council members.."
ReplyDeleteIs this a violation of the Open Meetings Law? Why don't they hold it in the Council Chamber if it's an open meeting?
5:06 I've wondered about that ever since I heard about them meeting before meetings. They don't need to meet privately at 7:00 since no one shows up until almost 7:30 if anyone shows up at all.
ReplyDeleteIf there's a majority of the council there, and they discuss any city business (and I don't think they're there to talk about where they ate lunch) then it's a meeting.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much business is actually finalized in that "back room", then voted on in the public session? I'd guess a lot.
The purpose of the Open Meetings law is to get the discussion out into the public realm, so the taxpayers can see and hear how the council they elected makes their decisions-- what was discussed, etc.
Concerning Fruitland City Council 'back door' meetings. Every member of the City Council including the Town Manager meet before the "public" meetings. If this is against the Open Meetings law they are in violation for as far back as I can recall. Who do you go to when all of them know they are breaking such a law? If there's someone or a phone number I hope someone will supply it. This group of people don't announce 'public hearings' until the day of the meeting. For most people this isn't enough notice to go home from work, eat dinner and get to a meeting. You can tell the moment they sit down that minds are made up so there is no use to speak up.
ReplyDelete