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Monday, July 28, 2008 12:52 PM Council drops 2nd meeting By Rochelle Moore Daily Times Staff Writer Wilson City Council members have agreed to change their meeting schedule to allow for more one-on-one discussion with the addition of breakfast work sessions once a month. Already in place is the elimination of council's meeting that was held on the first Thursday of each month. City Council has traditionally met on the first and third Thursday of each month, except in July and August. All of the changes were decided in June. "So far, nothing has really changed because historically, there has been no meeting in July and August," City Manager Grant Goings said. "Nobody will really experience a difference until September." The traditional agenda sessions that preceded each City Council meeting have also been eliminated. The breakfast meetings replace the agenda sessions, but without the normal 10-15 city staff members present. A monthly time and day for the breakfast work sessions has not been set. "The format will be very similar to what they had during an agenda session," Goings said. City Council first met for breakfast in April and again in June, but without any city staff except the city manager and the city attorney. The breakfasts have been held at the local restaurant Something Different, but they may take place at other restaurants, in an effort to allow local businesses to benefit from the sales. Input or involvement from city staff will be considered at future sessions, but no plan has been formalized yet, Goings said. Even though the meetings are public, there will not be any public comment period. Work sessions usually do not include public involvement. Meeting minutes will be taken, but the work sessions will not be recorded or televised. The work sessions will provide council with time to informally discuss city issues without taking a formal vote. Some city policies, however, have been developed from suggestions made during the meetings. "The atmosphere is a little different, and I think the council is a little bit more open during these meetings," Councilman Bill Blackman said. The removal of one public meeting a month will reduce the public's chances of addressing council, but at least one meeting regular doesn't think the change will be that significant. "I don't think it's going to make much difference," said Richard Herring, with Herring Sutton and Associates. "The people who come in and want to complain, they can get on the agenda anytime." Herring attends the meetings regularly due to his involvement with developers seeking city zoning approval. Wilson Planning and Zoning Board issues are reviewed by City Council on the third Thursday of each month. "I don't see anything wrong with it," Herring said, of the change. "I think it's an indication that they're trying to use their time more effectively. It sounds productive to me." City Council has often had to cancel meetings held on the first Thursday because of a lack of city business. In 2006, council only met three times out of 12 on the first Thursday of the month. In 2007, the council met four times out of 12 on the first Thursday. Goldsboro and Rocky Mount hold two meetings each month, as does the city of Raleigh. Karl Knapp, director of research and policy analysis for the N.C. League of Municipalities, said that the number of times a city council meets depends on the size of the city and the amount of public business the council needs to handle. Larger North Carolina cities normally have more than one public meeting a month. Cities also have boards, commissions and committees that can handle some of the city's business. Councilwoman Gwen Burton also views the changes as positive and a way to reduce staff time devoted to planning and preparing for meetings and pre-meeting agenda sessions. "I think the overall change is good," Burton said. "If we go with the breakfast meeting, it provides us an opportunity to talk about what we would like to see happen." Burton suggested during the April breakfast that the mayor provide the city with a "State of the City" address each year. Mayor Bruce Rose plans to do so after the first of the year. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818 |
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