Here are some changes that you will see implemented on November 15:
- Seating Arrangement: the clerk will sit next to the Mayor, enabling the clerk, especially to provide subtle but needed support regarding parliamentary procedure.
- Public comment will be timed according to circumstance and timing will be monitored by the Mayor instead of the Clerk.
- You no longer need to sign up to testify during a public hearing, but you may if you'd like. Those who sign up will be called on first.
- The mayor will follow the agenda, announcing the items, but will not read the recommended motion, though that text will continue to be printed on the agenda, and any member of the Assembly is free to use it.
- Items that come before the Assembly will be supported with a document called an "Agenda Bill" - a document that provides a guide for detailing rationale and pertinent information related to the item.
- The Manager's report will be on the consent agenda. Manager's recommendations will be incorporated into an Agenda Bill as appropriate.
And most controversial of all - there will be no food on the dias!
Members indicated an interest in altering Haines Borough Code as follows:
- to provide for unlimited turns of Assembly members to speak during a debate (2.10.060(D);
- to eliminate the requirement that the clerk include a synopsis of Assembly debate (2.10.040(D) - a change which will pave the way for "Action Minutes;"
- to provide an opportunity in the Order of Business (i.e. Agenda) for Assembly members to indicate their intention to bring a topic to the next meeting's agenda;
- to eliminate the requirement that all resolutions be read out loud (2.12.100(A); and
- to eliminate the requirement that the Assembly review invoices (3.04.050)
Members indicated their preferences for memberships on at least two of the four Standing Committees: Commerce, Finance, Personnel, and Government Affairs & Services; as well as their preferences for assignments as liaison to one or more boards, commissions, or committees established by the Assembly. I will announce those assignments on the 15th and appoint the chair of each standing committee.
And finally, members responded on a Likert-scale 5-0 rating their interest on a set of projects I had prepared for their consideration. I will compile the results for the Assembly and report back on the 15th.
Stay tuned!
Great job on all posts, Stephanie, You are putting the Haines Borough on the map as an exemplary local government. I appreciate the measured approach you are taking to changes and your giving your readers access to pertinent links and opportunities to comment. Two comments on Code changes: 1) Action Minutes are preferable as long as meetings are recorded and are audible. 2) No limits on assembly comments - This can result in unintended consequences such as the need to get in the last word on a hot issue or building the argument and positional bargaining. Although this will be an assembly decision, I would hope that the BA members will hold off on changing the code at so early a stage in your mayoralty. The other consideration is what abuses could occur when you are no longer mayor. Once this code is adopted, BA members will likely have little motivation to restrictions.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol,
ReplyDeleteThe Assembly will consider introducing Ordinance 11-11-277 this coming Tuesday night.
Introduction alerts the community of the proposed changes; then the community has a few weeks to think about it. Our next meeting will be Dec. 13. If the ordinance is successfully introduced Nov. 15, community comments will be heard on Dec. 13. Meanwhile, my hope is that we can "experiment." I will try to keep track of the number of times Assembly members wish to speak on a topic; I will remind them when they are speaking for a third time and when an Assembly member wants to speak a third time, I will ask the Assembly to suspend the rules in order to allow more than two turns per Assembly person. Let's see what happens when we conscientiously adhere to or suspend the rules. Does limiting turns stifle debate or does it not? That is the question!