As many of you know, I truly like Stevie Prettyman. I believe she has served the citizens honorably on the County Council. Just when I thought Stevie was wrong with the night meetings she said, Joe, when does the AFP hold their meetings? I replied, the third Wednesday of every month at 7 PM. She then said, when does the City Council hold their meetings? As everyone knows they hold it usually twice a month at 6 PM on Monday nights. She then asked, when does the Zoo Commission meet every month. I said, OK Stevie, let me hear your point.
Stevie replied, CONSISTENCY. Even the AFP has consistency in their meetings. It would get too confusing if the times changed all the time. Stevie went on to say, if they proposed ALL night meetings from here on out, that's a different story. Whatever the taxpayers want, I'm OK with that, Prettyman said. However, make up your mind. Either have the meetings during the day or hold them at night but I will not support bouncing them from day to night every other meeting.
You know what Folks, she's right. There has not been a proposal to hold all of the meetings in the evening and perhaps after this Post the AFP will bring it to the table. In the mean time, you won't get Stevie's vote in favor of changing the meetings unless you make them all one or the other. Good call Stevie.
I disagree. People use calendars all the time to keep track of appointments. There is no reason people wouldn't be able to keep track of day and night meetings. Wicomico Eastside Chamber of Commerce has morning meetings, afternoon meetings and evening meetings to accomodate ALL of our members. We tried to have them as all evening meetings and our attendance dropped. Accomdating everyone is the right thing to do. In my humble opinion it's a poor excuse.
ReplyDeleteOK Bob, everyone has the right to their opinion.
ReplyDeleteI too disagree. Meetings should alternate to get different views.
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion.
bs
ReplyDeleteand someone will be running against Stevey now, that's a promise, too bad the vote will now be split
an anonymous opinion without the balls to say who you are.
ReplyDeleteI love these anonymous tough guy threats. Who's it going to be, light in the loafers Dunn?????
ReplyDeleteWhy couldn't they consistently have one night meeting the first Thursday of the month or some such thing?
ReplyDeleteThe ONLY reason the proposed meeting times would include one night meeting and one day meeting was because it was a compromise with the council, because they didn't want night meetings, and apparently they still don't. the consistency argument is a smoke screen. They could of had all night meetings if they wanted to. The point is people wanted access to the meetings and the ability to engage with local government officials, and the local government officials have found a way to deny this requests now calling it a matter of consistency. I say that's bunk. Every night meeting that the council has held has had a terrific turnout. Is Stevie now saying she doesn't support the once a quarter night meetings because people are too confused to figure out when they are?
ReplyDeleteStevie tells it the way she sees it. Never have i known her to use a smoke screen. And, I believe the members of the council have accommodated the citizens. They run the meetings on Pac 14. If I want to look at their agenda and minutes they have that on the web site. They also hold night meetings when warranted. Guess you can just never please some people no matter how hard you try. She has and will continue to have my vote.
ReplyDeleteSince we have a "strong " executive form of government isn't access and discourse with the Executive far more important?
ReplyDeleteI see this "issue" as a non issue.
You are absolutely right rightcoast. Will the real Stevie please stand up.
ReplyDeleteyup
ReplyDeleteEymah WiKomeeko voter person and eym tew stewpod to no the deferense bitwean 1 nitghte meetning and 1 daye mettning
Steephie is reely hepping me
Thanks Steephie!
Day or Night do you think they listen to the public, what differance does it make. They do what they want to do anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo now the right coast wingnuts want the meetings at night so some weeks we will have a meeting every night of the week? WTF. Then someone will complain that they can't go to the meetings because there are to many to go to. And someone else will complain that they can't go to the county council meetings because it takes away their time from their families. Wah, Wah, Wah! Here is some cheese with that whine. Keep the meetings during the day, there are always more attendance during the day anyway.
ReplyDeleteI thought the idea was to gauge the turnout of night vs. day meetings.
ReplyDeleteIf there's a bigger and more varied turnout at night, then do night. If more and varied by day, then do day.
If about the same, then do both, the system is working.
If the issue is what turns people out day or night, then current system is working, unless people aren't showing up complaining the time is wrong for them to participate.
Do day meetings all winter when it's dark at 4:30, do night meetings all season when it's light til 9:00
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness Julie, Joe Holloway wants to bring it to a vote once again when all members of the council can be present. He was told to leave the issue alone for a while.
ReplyDelete1:02 Seriously? I mean really 1:02? Criticizing someone else for for commenting anonymously while doing so anonymously?? Wow
Stevie , you the woman! Good point young lady! Thanks for the help on Red Hill lane.
ReplyDelete1:43 Good Points---and I agree!
ReplyDeleteNight meetings or day meetings, whatever... she's the hottest council member this place has ever seen AND she does her homework!
ReplyDeleteAnother point made by Stevie, which I agree with, is everytime there is a big issue on the table they hold the meetings at night for the convenience of the taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteI guess we need to go to the darn day meetings and lobby to get ALL NIGHT MEETINGS just for the Consistency!
ReplyDeleteThis is getting to be a PAIN ! ! !
kn
I say have a day meeting and then repeat the same meeting at night.
ReplyDeletePoliticians never cease to amaze me with their twisted ways of reasoning. If the citizens want night meetings and you think they are to stupid to keep the meeting dates on their calenders, whose problem is it? Not the elected officials, and if the people don't show up it's their problem. You work for the people, do what they want unless you have a legitimate reason not to.
ReplyDelete10:49pm Not all citizens want night meetings. Are you missing that point?
ReplyDeleteIf I need or want to be involved with Gov't I either call my district council person or send an email. These meetings are about taking care of business and the only opportunity to voice my thoughts are after the decisions have been made. Anyone who wants to voice their thoughts needs to do so before the meetings. I have found this council to be very receptive to holding the public hearings at night if the topic is something that really affects everyone. Anyone who is interested is changing this procedure should head on over to the election and file for election.
ReplyDeleteI like Stevie too. And it is confusing...Calendars or not. When you have consistency you don't need to look at a calendar. Maybe thats why the BOE is in such a dyscfunction. They have one night and then one day meeting. I can never keep track. Always have to look in the calendar to see when it is.
ReplyDeleteAny good business person knows how important having consistency is. There is not a club, board(other than the BOE) or organization that I know of that changes their meeting dates around. They hold their meetings on the same day and at the same time every month. Come on people think about it.
ReplyDeleteIs Stevie now saying she doesn't support the once a quarter night meetings because people are too confused to figure out when they are?
ReplyDeletegood question.
Bob, well that's good news. At least Joe Holloway is "consistent" with this issue. 4:13 I doubt you attend any of the meetings anyway....and lol @ complaining about people complaining. Too funny.
ReplyDelete