Norwalk council’s togetherness to be stoked Saturday

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2 responses to “Norwalk council’s togetherness to be stoked Saturday”

1. Oldtimer

   February 2, 2014

   Can they do that ? Hold a council meeting and exclude any public participation ? Doesn’t the FOI law require, notice, agenda, and an opportunity for public participation at all public meetings ?

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2. dlauricella

   February 2, 2014

   Good to see Council attempting to get its house in order and review its charter-given responsibilities…I hope there will be great discussion about training, holding departments to account and achieving consistent due diligence before spending taxpayer dollars.
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   My read of FOIA requires a public notice of a Special Meeting, but does not require that public can speak…that is at the discretion of the Council…note that public can ask their council people to speak, but save an ordinance or written Council rules policy, there is no legal requirement. Also, we all can weigh in by calling or emailing Council about what we would like them to know…email all at once at [email protected]

   After years of advocacy for more public input at Council Committee meetings and open government, I am pleased the Council rules were recently changed to have each Council Committee allow a public comment period at the beginning of the meetings, although I hope we can “institutionalize” this in an Ordinance (prior years, some Council Chairs would rarely let public speak except when there was an official, legal public hearing…thereby squandering a chance for public to have a real dialog).
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   Also note: the public needs to show up or send written comments at important meetings like this Weds. Capital Budget public hearing at 7pm at City Hall Community Room. More often than not, in politics silence of the public due to frustration is instead interpreted as tacit approval! Democracy is not a Spectator Sport!

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