« Fly like the Wingate | Main | friday pelican blogging »
March 14, 2007
It's Time for New Country Commission Meeting Times
Discussion has begun anew over what time of day the Hamilton County Commission should hold its regular meetings. Some of us may not even know what time the meetings are, currently. (They’re at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.) Many might not care.
Citizens should remember that these are not the commissioners’ meetings, but ours. Though it’s obvious that all 350,000 of us can’t go — you think the jail is crowded (and it is) — it’s good that some are pointing out the inconvenience inherent in the current arrangement. Whether your cause is more money for schools, or less money for...well, less of something, it’s hard to be a decent petitioner before lunch on a weekday.
The existing schedule even places limits on who is able to run for the office. Few employers can be flexible enough to allow members of their firms to participate in commission or committee meetings. The local situation is similar to that of the General Assembly’s membership: only the independently wealthy, self-employed, or retired are eligible, practically speaking, to hold an office that is theoretically filled by the common people. It appears, therefore, that the elected representatives and their audiences all consist of people who have plenty of free time, while the rest of us work. That can’t be right, can it?
In fairness, there simply won’t be a perfect time. But we should look for what will serve more of us. Maybe Friday afternoons would be better, as they hold some of the least fruitful hours at area offices anyway. Nope; the commissioners are technically at work at that time, and we don’t want them being unproductive. (Or do we? Remember the fiasco involving commandments on the courthouse?)
Finally, if work isn’t what creates the conflict with the current meeting time, bear in mind that also prevents those of us without a DVR from keeping up with the latest controversy on “The View.” Something must change, and soon.
[Cross-posted from the Pulse.]
[Third paragraph updated for accuracy.]
Government , Pulsations | By joe lance | 10:10 AM