Local Government Stuff

[carolinarider09]

So, since I am retired and I do have some more time, I decided to become more involved with the local government, small city and county. 

I have said several times, to fix the top you have to start at the bottom. 

Observations

Our small Town Council is pretty much a hit and go thing.   While there are some rules, it appears they really don't care if we, the people, know what is going on.

If you are not at the Town Council meeting you will have to wait almost three (3) months to see the meeting minutes (have to go thorough two "monthly" readings before being "published". )

The agenda for the coming meeting is not available anywhere for you to see until you get there for the meeting. 

The public is allowed to speak for three minutes during the meeting, if you request to do so at the very beginning of the meeting. 

The meeting times are listed on the Town's webpage "calendar" but they are never updated.  In fact the meeting date for December 2022 and January 2023 are still blank.

They can change the meeting time the day before.  As the Mayor stated to me in an email message "they can meet today and schedule the meeting for 2:00AM tomorrow morning and don't have to tell a soul.

The Mayor told me the time and dates for Town Council meetings were in the newspaper.   So, I subscribed to the local country newspaper.  I chose the monthly rate of $5.20 per month for the electronic version instead of the $60 a year for the electronic and delivered paper version (you have to do the math  ).  I searched the last four papers for the towns name, nothing about the meetings. 

Next Town Council Meeting I will mention that, if I get there in time (first meeting I attended started an hour early, last meeting just before Christmas the same, no updates, no warnings).   

County council meetings are a little better.  Got someone I use to work with at the nuke plant on the council and I think he is a conservative.  And a new "nuke" just got elected so.... we will find out.  While their meetings are much better run and they meet twice a month, when I got to the last meeting in December (I arrived at the door at 5:50 PM, meeting was schedule for 6:00 PM, standard time) I went inside and looked at the clock on the wall.  it said 5:35 PM.   

So, it appears that you do not have to start a county council meeting on time (i.e. WWV Time) you just have to change the clock to meet your requirements.

I did speak at meeting before last about some stuff on the agenda (you can see the agenda a few days in advance) and one of the things I mentioned was the notion of paying people the same for working from home as working at office or building....  Seems they get the same pay regardless.   I don't think that is fair to someone who actually shows up to work (just the cost of travel can add up to $20 a day depending).  And I firmly believe that personal interface is very important in that type of activity.   One of the councilman nodded in approval.  Made me feel good.

Anyway, I will be doing some work with the local Town Council, as a concerned citizen. 

[Robert]

Find out what local businessmen have input to the counsel. Once you start to know the business that have the influence, since many come from business in many of counsels, you can get into the good old boy network. I say that meaning the click, they are usually very particular who they let in or listen to. Its not what you know but who you know.

Good job, I think your doing a great thing but you may want to ask your doctor for some muscle relaxers. 

[scooperhsd]

Find out what local businessmen have input to the counsel. Once you start to know the business that have the influence, since many come from business in many of counsels, you can get into the good old boy network. I say that meaning the click, they are usually very particular who they let in or listen to. Its not what you know but who you know.

Good job, I think your doing a great thing but you may want to ask your doctor for some muscle relaxers. 

WHich is why I will never get involved with politics....

[Oss]

good for you

Bonnie and I are going up to Albany on Jan 10 ( with a few other cars full of nice folks)  to attempt to speak to legislators before Hochul the terrible gives her state of the state address

Some of the bills are barbaric IMHO  including reincarnation of the concentration camp bill, the loss of parental control over vaccines and that is just the beginning of the bills up with the communist democrats who control the state legislature, executive and judiciary

wish us luck

[carolinarider09]

I surely wish you luck.   

[old2soon]

    Evan how close you to pullin the pin-retirement? I see some of the kaka the fed gubmint and some local gubmint tryin to foist off as "laws" and it IS very sickening. And here in the shome with the exception of the larger metro areas seem to still have their head(s) screwed on almost straight.
     On another front looks like locally here in SoMo gasoline has gone up .20 .30 cents a gallon. BUT it are the first month of the new year and wuz sorta kinda expected BUT Not appreciated. Anybody sides me figured out "free gubmint chit" costin workin folks and retired from working folks Actually cost MONEY?  RIDE SAFE.

[carolinarider09]

I found the state documents that require the meetings time and date be posted 24 hours before the meeting at the meeting location and (here is the important part) on their website, if they have one. 

Since the town has a website, the meeting time and location, by state law, must be posted there and any changes updated at least 24 hours before the meeting time.   

Have a letter drafted with the documents.  Will send it to the Mayor tomorrow.   We shall see what happens.

[Louis]

Be careful about "rocking" the boat. You may be setting yourself up as a target. Be prepared.

[carolinarider09]

Be careful about "rocking" the boat. You may be setting yourself up as a target. Be prepared.

Yes that thought has occurred to me.   At my age, I don't think being a target is going to hurt too much.  

Besides I am tired of local politicians doing what they want without a care for the people they "serve".  

Edited to add.  So far the communications have, to my knowledge, not been made public and I will not do that unless something really happens.   

[scooperhsd]

good for you

Bonnie and I are going up to Albany on Jan 10 ( with a few other cars full of nice folks)  to attempt to speak to legislators before Hochul the terrible gives her state of the state address

Some of the bills are barbaric IMHO  including reincarnation of the concentration camp bill, the loss of parental control over vaccines and that is just the beginning of the bills up with the communist democrats who control the state legislature, executive and judiciary

wish us luck

Yeah, well I think the 2nd Circuit Federal Court of Appeals is about to get a big smackdown from SCOTUS....

[Oss]

Frankly I do not care how big the target sign on my back is,

I am doing what I believe I must do starting again with Albany on the 10th

O2Soon 2 yrs then sell the LT practice part

I want to be like Johnny Carson  started at 90 minutes, then 60, then off fridays
then off weeks at a time

Will be 3 weeks in Naples Fl in late winter and give it a test drive lol with zoom etc

Need more riding time and time vacationing with Bonnie  goal is to be off 8 weeks this year but not consecutively and find someone to buy the biggest part of my business in 2024