Click on the post for the decision which will impact local school board and city governement.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the fashionable "minimulist" agenda style which for example would list "ordinance 2007-13 under discusssion", is not acceptable since it is not fourthright and does not explain the substance that is to be discussed.
This decision is long overdue. Bravo.
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According to the article, if the new rule were applied to the Observer's example, it would be sufficient for the agenda to say, "Motion to approve Ordinance #2007-___." According to the article, the court decided it would be unduly burdonsome to require local governments to attempt to identify in the agenda all of the features of the proposed contract or ordinance that might be of interest to the public. So it appears this decision will not much affect the City of Evansville's agendas, because they usually make clear when an item will merely be discussed and when it is anticipated there will be action on an item.
ReplyDeleteBill Connors
Former Evansville City Administrator
I think a good idea would be to put the packets on the city website so people who are interested can access them. Not too long ago, Jim Beilke emailed me a set, so they must have them or be able to get them electronically formatted.
ReplyDeleteIn this way folks would know the information being given to the aldermen or committee members, and can form their responses or contact their aldermen if they have any concerns or suggestions.
Unless you are well informed, there is no way to immediately understand what ord #2007-___ is. Much better they should say ord#2007-_____ regarding proposed yada.
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't detail all of the aspects of the ordinance, but does identify the subject of said ordinance.
Actually, the city's agendas always provide the full title of the ordinance, which includes both the ordnance number and some brief text about the subject of the ordinance. And I agree with Karen that it would be good if the entire meeting packet were available online before the meeting (although, alas, when I was city administrator, I could not convince the city clerks I worked with to make just the agendas available online before the meetings on a consistent basis). I was only pointing out that merely complying with the new rule in the court's decision would not provide the public with much information.
ReplyDeleteBill Connors
Former Evansville City Administrator