Critics of what happened at Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting are saying that chaos now rules. By allowing an unruly crowd to force the selectmen into an impromptu discussion, the Board has effectively tossed the Open Meeting Law, and given its agenda over to whatever vocal group might show up on any given Monday.
Not really.
The Open Meeting Law is flexible. Agendas must include those topics that the Board reasonably expects to discuss. In this case, the Board was notified that some Wind I neighbors would be attending and petitioning the Board to speak. However, that notice arrived on Monday - too late for this item to be added to the agenda when that was posted last Thursday.
Furthermore, given the distress exhibited by the neighbors of Wind I, it could be argued that the action taken by the Board - to shut down Wind I in high winds - constituted an emergency. Again, the Open Meeting Law allows for this.
The critics reply, "Even if the Board's actions can be justified under the Open Meeting Law, there is still the question about who's in charge. What's to stop other angry mobs from doing the same thing? Should the Board have a police presence just in case?"
Take a breath folks.
Who's meeting is it, really? The Board meets to conduct the people's business. We are elected to act in the best interest of the people, but that doesn't mean we have a monopoly on intelligence and common sense. The First Amendment gives the people the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and that is exactly what happened on Monday night.
However, a case can be made that a precedent has been set. Rather than fight it, I say we should embrace it.
Many of the commonwealth's cities and towns give their citizens the opportunity to publicly address their executive boards. Indeed, I'm told that at one time, Falmouth did too.
Why not now? Are we afraid of being embarrassed by an unexpected revelation, or asked a question for which we have no answer? Hogwash! We serve the public. The gavel is meant to keep order, not silence the very people who elected us.
Frankly, I've been mulling over some sort of "open mic night" for some time now, but was never quite sure of the value, or how to make it work. As we saw on Monday, there is value.
This is how it will work:
1) At the first meeting of every month, the Board will set aside time on its agenda to allow for public comment.
2) This agenda item, PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND COMMENT, will always be at 8:30pm.
3) All speakers will have no more than 5 minutes.
4) Civility matters. Rude, inappropriate or slanderous comments will not be tolerated, and the chair will enforce the provisions of M.G.L. Ch. 30A, Sec 20(f).
5) The Board will have no discussions, and make no decisions, other than to make sure that issues are appropriately delegated, and/or to schedule a properly advertised public discussion for a date certain.
As I have done throughout my tenure as chair, I will be proposing that the Board adopt this regular agenda item. For me to impose this upon the Board - without their buy-in - would only resurrect the rancor and divisiveness that we left behind last year. It is my hope that the Board will agree to this - that we will turn lemons into lemonade, and give our citizens a voice where they may not have had one before.
(This editorial was also published in the Friday, March 4, 2011 edition of the Falmouth Enterprise under the title, "Selectmen Will Give Citizens Forum For Expressing Concerns")
1 comment:
Dear Chairman Putnam,
It appears Barnstable County, believing it improper protocol to act on a request from a county citizen, needs only an official "invitation" from the Town of Falmouth. It is not too late to make such a request of the County for the June 6 Wind Info meeting, since the agenda due date is June 2 COB.
A 10 minute presentation on the new Minimum Performance Standards, next steps and the Technical Bulletin process will have a more timely wind information effect for the public since, as you're probably aware, the Cape Cod Commission (planning and regulatory committees and the staff) just completed an exhaustive eight month examination of wind energy regulatory development.
Speaking as a Falmouth resident, it would clearly be more beneficial to have input from a regulatory body that has an immediate "pulse" on wind concerns for the Cape.
I urge you to delegate this request to Ms. Heather Harper if it's necessary protocol. Otherwise, Ms. Christenberry is only a phone call away (508-362-3828 ext. 1221 Direct dial: 508-744-1221).
I realize the meeting, given such a critical topic, maybe filled with other presenters. However, wind information from a regional authority with such time relevance, not to mention local importance, should be given greater priority.
Regarding your 'quote' in yesterday's Enterprise - it should be made clear - the BoS's job in this matter is NOT to "FIX". Rather, acting on behalf of the people whose VOICET mandated a wind moratorium, it's the Boards job to ensure the designated board (Planning) does... their job "To Address the problem", from which a better "Fix" can be suggested.
Thank You for the job you continue to do!
Respectfully,
Mark Cool
Firetower Rd.
Post a Comment