Monday, December 13, 2010
City Council Conundrum
It is currently 10:50pm and the Fayetteville City Council meeting, which started at 7 this evening- is still going on. I have been to a couple meetings that lasted less than an hour- one even less than 30 minutes. It makes me wonder why the meetings cannot be organized to last a regular length of time- but I'm sure there are tons of reasons why it happens like this. Business may garner significantly less resistance and input and understanding from the public if it is handled after 9:30pm. I should know, because I left around 9:15 this evening- 135 minutes of City Council was just enough for me today. People often leave as soon as their particular topic of interest is addressed. Next up on the docket, at 10.2: Tax Refunds of Less than $100. I would like to share lots of details about todays council meeting tomorrow- please stay tuned. In a nutshell, choosing a replacement for Councilman Meredith amongst the membership was not as easy as I thought it could be: imagine that.
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Just a couple of observations from the 135 minutes I spent at last nights Fayetteville City Council meeting:
ReplyDelete-The recorder who was responsible for counting votes had a sub par performance. It wasn't the same voting process as usual though- and she might have been rushed.
-Boy Scout troop 787 led the audience in the pledge of allegiance. It happens to be the same troop that Mr. Arp, who will fill Wesley Meredith seat, attended when he was a kid.
-As an Eagle Scout I can appreciate the display of a quality Class A uniform. Most of the scouts in attendance last night were dressed far from "textbook" - but part of me is glad. Loosening a rigid dress code might be a good thing for the Boy Scouts. I'm sure its a challenge to recruit a big crowd for BSA these days. I really don't mind blue jeans- but please rock the neckerchief.
-Councilman Bates is one of my favorites. He will not be running for re-election, I'm fairly certain. He regularly speaks up on behalf of north Fayetteville.
-Councilman Massey is not sure how to turn his phone on silent- or at least he didn't think there was reason to turn off the ringer during a televised city council meeting. His phone rang twice- although I only saw him check his voicemail once. By all means take a bathroom break if its that important. I know undivided attention hardly exists nowadays, but at least pretend.
-Mayor Pro Tem Haire is big on posturing- or maybe just changing his mind at the drop of a hat. Or maybe he had it planned out. What a crazy change of heart. Clearly against a drawn out gridlock- and time for people to ask more questions.
-Oftentimes I believe in addition by subtraction, but I don't quite buy into improvement by division. We are all, in fact, trying to move Fayetteville Forward..
-Soon to be Senator Wesley Meredith has a quality mustache, and he smiles a lot. I would probably be smiling too if I was riding high on my way to Raleigh and in love with a hottie who does things right. I hear he has is a member of a great church too. Oh wait, I am smiling...and on I40W.
-Councilman Mohn is big on saving money these days- and probably took the most conservative stance of the meeting, except for voting for the UNION rep who wanted to join him on the council.
-Wait a second....who did you say is addicted to retail?
-Mayor Chavonne is a steady captain. Sometimes I wish he would ask more questions.
-Discussion is always very interesting amongst Iman and McDonald.
-Councilwomen Applewhite and Davy are the two members of the council that I have had the most conversation with. I really enjoyed those discussions.