Well, there you have it!! Fairly predictable

Council has shot down the Charter Review Committee's recommendations for the Ward system elimination, the term limits, hiring from outside for the chief's positions, and reducing the current seven person council number to five. These proposals will not go to the voters as they should do. This system doesn't work as it removes the choices for the citizens. This whole procedure of a 10 year review should be retained but the approval of Council should be removed from the procedure and these Charter recommendations should go directly to the voters. Council should have no right in being the judge, jury and executioner of the choices as to how the citizens want their town to run. This method only puts the "patients in control of the asylum" because it allows these inept leaders to dictate how the city is to be run by picking and choosing the choices for the people. IMO, The people's rights are being taken away at this time.

You're correct Pac! Pretty important stuff, this gender neutral topic.

All I can say is vote em out in Nov. Clean house every one up for re-election needs too go then we can start rebuilding our town as th citizens want. Arise Middletonians lets take our city back in Nov.

MerrellWood wrote:  Since they were there to dump the ward system,  Remember the majority of council members even today, live in the 3rd ward.... some on the same street.  JMO.

Thank You! It was obvious to me that whole process was to get the "dumb" People out of City government so the "smart" people could go about the business of running the City as they saw fit!

It was an Elitist move in my opinion!

Who are the 4 council members that live in the 3rd ward?  I assume you are counting the Mayor since he has a vote in everything.  I don't see 4 Council Members living in the 3 rd ward, but you claim a majority do.

You guys are so picky .....Sorry, I guess I was thinking and correct in my impression that they are all from that end of town, espically with 2 on 1 street that almost boarders the 3rd ward. Anyway, I'm more interested in your views on my last post....

GROUCHO MARX ANALYZES THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN BRAINTRUST

Smokey, Middletown and the HUD Money is something like this, the Citizens are Costello:

"Council already thumbs their noses at us, no need to give them ammo to do it more. "

Please Merrell......no need to chastise anyone here for their conduct. The moral standards here are pretty high, and considering the political cartoons just above your usual MJ banter are of a much lower and more ?able standard. Have you voiced your concern to your handlers in the editorial dept?

I would have been happy to switch recommendations and have Council Green Light the 9 really immaterial issues and let the Citizen vote on the 3 more important ones.  As it is now I doubt the Citizens will take the time to read 9 pretty insignificant issues and will just run down the ballot checking all yes or no depending on the day of the week.

I remain perplexed associated with the posts, the constant drum of "knock the bums out in the fall"! I agree the council is a useless bunch. Isn't it time for constructive action? Does anyone not realize property values have declined all around Middletown, regardless of what neighborhood one lives? Think Akers is going to sell his property for a $ Mm, or Pratt $700 Kk---get real here folks.

Would not the logical focus need to transition to "why are we allowing these sub-committees to be formed" as it should be obvious why that occurs- to ram what council wants w/o communicating to their constituents. How is that resolved? Shouldn't your ward council member be contacted and a discussion made about the obvious practice and why it should stop? Marconi says the voters determine term limits? Give me a break---no new qualified individuals run for office (no disrespect to Mr. Woods whom I voted but assume will not run again).

What about the city ordinance allowing capital expenses that USED to be dedicated to infrastructure be used for "other purposes." It would seem logical that's a good starting point for reform, or is it better to let funds go to the next project council and city hall wish to divert?  

Face the facts: Middletown is run by a few and that's aided and abetted by these
sub-committees" who always do the city and the council biddling. Isn't the goal the "majority" speak and run Middletown? That's the way most communities are run, why not Middletown?

Maybe the reality is the majority of Middletownians are just apathetic and don't care about their property values going south, the streets a disgrace, while the golf course is well groomed, but I don't think so. The only difference is 200 people can unite and rule the city, while 49, 980 are asleep and wishing someone else get involved and fix the problems.

My opinion.

CITIZENS PARTICIPATION MIDDLETOWN STYLE??