The Meeting Before The Meeting

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   From the Sunday Journal.....City Council plans to discuss much of this information along with a course of action for the future of the public safety levy during newly-instituted work sessions prior to the first meeting of the month, beginning Feb. 1.

The idea was broached by City Manager Judy Gilleland, who said the sessions will allow for more discussion on sensitive issues that wouldn’t qualify for an executive session but “are awkward to work on while on TV.”

These hour-long sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be open to the public but will not include public comments or be recorded by TV Middletown.

“It will allow Council to have more discussions with staff and we can dig in deeper on issues,” Gilleland said.

Since it won't be televised by TV Middletown and won't allow public comment (surprise!) and since it's "intent" is to "dig deeper into the issues between Council and the staff", would it be advantageous for you to tape some of it Randy? Doesn't say that you can't. Just says it won't be recorded by TV Middletown. 

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VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Meeting Before The Meeting Posted: Jan 23 2011 at 9:24am
	From the Sunday Journal.....City Council plans to discuss much of this information along with a course of action for the future of the public safety levy during newly-instituted work sessions prior to the first meeting of the month, beginning Feb. 1. The idea was broached by City Manager Judy Gilleland, who said the sessions will allow for more discussion on sensitive issues that wouldn’t qualify for an executive session but “are awkward to work on while on TV.” These hour-long sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be open to the public but will not include public comments or be recorded by TV Middletown. “It will allow Council to have more discussions with staff and we can dig in deeper on issues,” Gilleland said. Since it won't be televised by TV Middletown and won't allow public comment (surprise!) and since it's "intent" is to "dig deeper into the issues between Council and the staff", would it be advantageous for you to tape some of it Randy? Doesn't say that you can't. Just says it won't be recorded by TV Middletown.

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jan 23 2011 at 7:29pm
	According to the newspaper article: The idea was broached by City Manager Judy Gilleland, who said the sessions will allow for more discussion on sensitive issues that wouldn’t qualify for an executive session but “are awkward to work on while on TV.” These hour-long sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be open to the public but will not include public comments or be recorded by TV Middletown. “It will allow Council to have more discussions with staff and we can dig in deeper on issues,” Gilleland said. What exactly will be said or discussed that will be “awkward” to say or discuss in front of the people that pay the bills, including *your* salary, Ms. Gilleland??? What is it that you, and the COUNCIL, do not want us to know??? Then again, I guess that we can always depend on their “positive newspaper” to fairly and accurately report all of the news, can’t we???
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb 04 2011 at 1:41am
	It seems like only yesterday when I read a commentary piece in a local newspaper in which City Manager Gilleland said: “Improving the city image involves … communication and attitude.” She went on to write: “Improved communication on the city's part will allow citizens to become more engaged.” And then: “the city confirms Middletown's pledge that ‘we are open for business,’ along with being open for citizen involvement.” Yep, it seems like only yesterday but it was actually April 22, 2009. Fast forward to January 22, 2011, and Ms. Gilleland has completely changed her mind: “Ms. Gilleland asked Council to consider going back to work sessions. There are sensitive things to discuss that are *not good for the Council floor* but not subject to executive session discussions.” Nowadays she seems to be of the opinion that PUBLIC SERVANTS should discuss the PUBLIC’S BUSINESS in *The People’s* council chambers, with *The People’s* audio-visual equipment standing by but turned off, and as far outside the eyes and ears of *The People* as possible, while still tip-toeing inside the letter of the open meeting laws!!! “Not good for the Council floor” can only be interpreted ONE WAY: “NOT GOOD for THE PEOPLE, so we better try to hide it from them as long as we can!!!” If it was in the best interest of The People, then they would not be AFRAID to discuss it openly and honestly, right out in front of The People, would they??? [you can see the complete article from where these quotes were taken, here: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=120B497978F6F260&p_docnum=25]
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb 04 2011 at 6:42am
	randy- will you be taking your camera and taping the segments of this semi-secret meeting so that we can monitor what they may be trying to hide from most citizens? Don't understand this logic. You have your regular televised "out in the open" semi-weekly council meetings. You have your Sunshine Law "we go in a back room and discuss real estate deals and personnel issues". And now we have a meeting that is between the two......a semi-secret meeting with no recording, but citizens can listen, but not participate. Reason??? I agree....if the subject matter is able to be discussed and is not off-limits to the public, why the need for this special semi-secret agenda? What would be discussed that needs to be "off the camera", yet able to be heard by the public?

Mike_Presta Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: Apr 20 2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3483	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mike_Presta Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb 04 2011 at 7:49am
	Vet, You ask: “a semi-secret meeting with no recording, but citizens can listen, but not participate. Reason???” It is simple and it is exactly as I have said!!! They know that very few people will attend the early, non-televised portion of the meeting. They know that it is difficult for many people to even make it to city hall by 5:30. They know that of the few members of the public that might attend the early meeting, even fewer are willing to report what is discussed, and those that do will likely do so under an alias on the internet and can then be attacked as unreliable by city hall’s lackeys. Even the local paper will do city hall’s bidding and refer to such reports as being made by “internet mobs” with “pitchforks and torches”. The ONLY possible reason for such meetings is that they want to keep things out of earshot of The People!!! This can *NOT* be because The People will LIKE what is being said!!! It can ONLY be because there is something that they: Are ashamed of saying in public. Are afraid of saying in public. Want to hide from the public. Every one of *THOSE* reasons is an excellent reason FOR recording and televising these goings on!!! Am I wrong??? If so, please explain how!! ANYONE???
	“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Feb 04 2011 at 12:00pm
	Even more reason for randy to go with camera and sound in hand to record and post the proceedings here.