Having recently become interested in how our local government works I have tried my best to be as active as time permits. I have attended City Council Meetings, attended meetings regarding our failing I-95 bridge, and attended the Mayors Neighborhood Summit Meeting. I have sought out neighborhood information. I have sought out districting information.
I have found that finding out about various city meetings, and city information in general, is difficult at best.
SecA Sec. 9-100 of the Pawtucket City Charter reads in part:
“Since it is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public
business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens be
advised of and (be made) aware of the performance of public officials and the
deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy…”
I am quite certain that the letter of the law is followed.
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Having been bothered about how the annual budget review process recently took place, I did some digging. I culled every Pawtucket Times newspaper I could get my hands on. I reviewed the “Legals” trying to find the ad(s) announcing the Council meeting that would address the Annual Budget and request Public Input. In the mix of dozens, if not hundreds, of Mortgagee’s Sales (read Foreclosures) I finally found this in the May 8th, 2009 edition of the Pawtucket Times.
5-8 ad
I missed the May 20th City Council meeting. That is my own fault. I would not have missed it had I been conscious of the agenda. Again, my fault. I don’t subscribe to the Pawtucket Times. That’s not an excuse. Looking at the “ClerkBase” (a link from the City Council page on the City’s website) would have clearly told me that a PUBLIC HEARING ON THE MUNICIPAL BUDGETS was on the agenda for 7pm. I messed up and missed it. Water under the bridge.
This single instance of not knowing of a particular meeting would not draw me into spending hours researching and writing about this topic. What got my dander up was the “Special City Council Meeting”. I heard of that meeting while attending the Neighborhood Summit on June 2nd. That, together with the poor attendance at the Neighborhood Summit made me question the City’s efforts to inform its citizens.
Through my research, and thanks to a very helpful personal in the City Clerk’s Office, I have put this timeline together.
5/8 and 5/13: small Legal ads in the Pawtucket Times regarding the Public Hearing scheduled for 5/20
5/9: large Legal ad in the Pawtucket Times reflecting the proposed ordinance and Mayor Doyle’s budget input
5/20: Public Hearing and City Council takes up the matter. Matter tabled until a 5/28 Special City Council
5/28: Special City Council Meeting Postponed. Rescheduled for 6/2
6/2: Special City Council Meeting. First Passage (as amended) approved on a roll-call vote. (As of this writing that vote is not yet posted on ClerkBase)
6/10 (scheduled): Public Hearing on the amendments only, followed by action by the Council for Second Passage.
There is an entry on the City’s events calendar for 5/20 stating “7:00 City Council”. There is nothing on 5/28 other than “Shavuot begins at sundown”. There is nothing on 6/2 pertaining to the Special City Council Meeting or the Mayor’s Neighborhood Summit.
There is no question in my eyes that everything that was required to be done was indeed done.
Section 11-52 of the City of Pawtucket Ordinances says:
“It is hereby mandated that any board or commission or committee or subcommittee thereof in the City of Pawtucket, whose members are appointed or confirmed by the City Council or the Mayor of the City of Pawtucket, shall include a public input session at the beginning of each docket or agenda for each meeting, or special meeting, in the conduct of ordinary business before each board or commission. The purpose of this article is to encourage the public to attend the meetings of each board or commission or committee or subcommittee and to offer input regarding matters pertaining to City government.”
“the citizens be advised of and (be made) aware of“
“encourage the public to attend the meetings…and to offer input regarding matters pertaining to City government”
Two people spoke at the public hearing regarding the City budget at this critical economic time. Two. To me that means the City did NOT advise and make aware. They did not encourage public attendance to offer input.
The City needs to a better job of informing its citizens. It’s the 21st Century. It’s not 1955 when the only media as the local newspaper. There is something called the Internet. Use it. Update the website, particularly the calendar of events. Do it daily if necessary. Use other media. Facebook, and now Twitter.
I received a wonderful handout at the Neighborhood Summit regarding summer recreational activities. Is that information on the website? Nope. The 2008 swimming pool info, the 2008 carousel schedule, the 2008 Winter Wonderland are all there. The March/April Senior Center info is there, as well. It’s June people!
I’m trying to get involved, the City should, as well.
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