[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Behind open doors

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Behind open doors
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1221022960.shtml


   The [1]Minneapolis Star Tribune reports what they suggest is a trend.
   It may well be but I doubt there is much data to confirm that trend,
   that local units of government are increasing resorting to "work
   sessions" rather that discuss issues openly in the regular, often
   televised, meetings. For example,

     [T]he St. Louis Park City Council met in its regular televised
     session for precisely 13 minutes and 47 seconds, taking care of a
     legal formality. Then, with cameras off, it convened a workshop at
     which it pondered a major civic undertaking: a new community
     center.

   As the article notes, almost all of these meetings are public per
   state statute. "Executive Session" is permitted when discussing
   certain matters like the annual evaluation of a City Manager or to
   confer with lawyers regarding a lawsuit defense. That doesn't mean
   they are held in comfortable facilities or at convenient hours. There
   are also "retreats" to more remote locations which may not have public
   access.
   I believe that at such public and private work sessions, no business
   can be transacted because there is no power to vote outside a public
   meeting. But that can be a one minute vote adopting many hours of work
   session deliberations, and only that one minute is televised. It
   therefore does happen that the casual observer is caught by surprise.
   Is this a problem? Generally, I don't think so. I think more informal
   settings are entirely appropriate for specific, often detailed tasks
   like the annual budget or planning a community center project. These
   can take considerable time, more time than should be spent at the
   public meeting.
   Indeed, in a well-run meeting, most of the business is simply the
   formal adoption of completed items. A city may take bids for a street
   project, and evaluate the responses. The staff makes a recommendation
   and draws up the papers for the necessary signatures. Assuming it fits
   within the current budget, it is a single agenda item that is
   (usually) formally adopted, possibly as part of the consent agenda if
   very routine in nature.
   If a unit of government finds itself regularly scheduling lengthy work
   sessions, however, this could be a symptom of a different problem.
   Perhaps the governing council or board is indulging in
   micro-management, not permitting and/or requiring the staff do their
   jobs. Perhaps there isn't enough staff, or the volunteer or contracted
   equivalents. Or perhaps the staff is needlessly cautious and/or
   indecisive, perhaps to the point where the City Manager or School
   Superintendent or Executive Director needs to be replaced.
   That said, I think the current system works. Don't change it.

References

   1. http://www.startribune.com/local/south/27979659.html?elr=KArksUUUU