Did you tune into the city council meeting on channel 19 last evening? Citizen Frank Orzell politely and respectfully spoke to the council, suggesting 5 ways they could improve their relations with the public over the McEuen park issue. Frank also told them that it is uncomfortable for people to stand up and speak to the council only to see all seven heads bent over and writing without making eye contact with the speakers.
It was quiet Al Hassel who commented back, with a bit of defiance I thought, that he’s taking notes and will continue to take notes!
My question is this: Why do they all have to write fast and furiously when the meetings are video taped, audio taped separately, with written notes taken by two of their staff members? I can understand a few notes here or there, but giving attention and respect to the speaker must be top priority.
Your thoughts on this or any other topic?
If they had any intention of making an immediate, substantive response to the speaker, then keeping notes would help do that. Clearly, that is not their intention. While they may hope to project an image of diligence by note-taking, what they are really projecting is inattention and indifference to what the speaker is saying.
Comment by Bill — June 8, 2011 @ 9:11 am
Why do they bother taking notes if they seldom, if ever, get back to the people for whom they claim they’re taking notes?
For example, Al supposedly takes notes when Susan Snedaker is speaking, yet Susie has told me that Al has never gotten back to her on any topic. Wouldn’t getting back to the public be good constituent service? Makes me wonder why Al bothers to take notes at all.
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2011 @ 9:27 am
The question Dan is a good one, but the premise may be flawed. If Susie was viewed as a constituent, then the answer would be yes. If the elected officious ones instead view Susie as simply a taxpayer and their actual “constituents” are others, then the conduct makes sense. Often elected officials become a tad contemptuous of those they feel are gadflies and tend to view them as irritants, not constituents. The reciprocal is that they often view the “pretty people” as their actual constituency and respond to them well.
Comment by Pariah — June 8, 2011 @ 9:47 am
As a matter of fact, when Frank Orzelle began his public remarks at the meeting last night, he reminded the council that he had offered the same 5 suggestions to them at the May 24th special council meeting at Woodland, and specifically asked them to get back to him on his suggestions. They were all “taking notes” then too, but none of them contacted Frank.
Comment by mary — June 8, 2011 @ 10:31 am
Their note taking is the “officious image” rather than actual substance.
Comment by Ancientemplar — June 8, 2011 @ 11:15 am
These comments could be labeled, WHAT’S THE POINT? I had that thought when I read that the CDA school trustees used a secret ballot for the selection for the vacancy created by Eddie Brooks’ resignation and then announced it was 5/zip in favor of Quinn.
Comment by Gary Ingram — June 8, 2011 @ 11:22 am
I had a hard time reading Mike Patrick’s editorial in the Press this morning. He started out admitting that “To a goodly number of you reading this editorial, the Coeur d’Alene school board selection process stunk to high heaven.” But then he lost my good will when he went on to ignore the improper procedures used by the school board and justified the flawed process by saying Wanda was a very qualified choice.
So what? The board obviously made their decision before the meeting. Edie voted on her own replacement, which she can’t do because the seat is not vacant until Edie leaves. And they totally ignored the will of the voters during the 2009 election when only 7 votes separated Edie from Jim Purtee, who also applied to be her replacement now, and even Mike Patrick acknowledged that Jim is also a very qualified choice.
Comment by mary — June 8, 2011 @ 12:16 pm
I do have a suggestion. Instead of having the council sit for such public comments they should just place cut-out images of themselves in their seats. In this manner than can appear to be present and slightly interested, not unlike the real thing, and just as substantiative. However, to keep the odor of the chamber similar a well used cat-box must be enlisted for such duty. If that is an ‘insiders’ cat the use of the ‘box’ will be around $50,000/meeting.
Comment by Wallypog — June 8, 2011 @ 12:21 pm
As I was there, you home-viewers didn’t see this: Al Hassel got up during the Administrators report, left the room, and returned with coffee for himself and Brunning. How serious should we take these people when they cannot respect even their own staff?
My opinion: They’re acting for the camera. Had the camera been on Hassel and not Administrator Gabriel, would he have left during the middle of a meeting? Aren’t you supposed to call a recess for that? Why can’t Hassel just bring a thermos?
Comment by Dan — June 8, 2011 @ 1:40 pm
Wallypog
Why would it be necessary for the city to use tax dollars to pay for cut-out images for the council members when Private interests have already paid for puppets?
Comment by Joe Six-Pack — June 8, 2011 @ 6:53 pm
http://www.local10.com/bobnorman/28163681/detail.html
Comment by justinian — June 8, 2011 @ 8:56 pm
Does anybody truly believe things will change in this backward place? There are none so tenacious as those who would hang on to the power that they believe defines them. The powers that (think they )be would deflate and fly away without their image of themselves. They can do as they please and get away with anything, legal or illegal. Why?? Because no matter how often the truthful facts are placed in front of the public, said public doesn’t bother to vote. Never have, never will. No morals, no ethics. Life is too short to bang your head against an ignorant wall. Good analogy I think. Walls made of concrete are what is contained between the ears of the CDA council. Venting changes nothing. This is a tacky ignorant town. Always has been apparently and always will be. Who needs it…
Comment by rochereau — June 9, 2011 @ 11:26 am