Town Council Members

[mocmoc]

I am curious, is anybody here that post messages a member of our Town council? If so, who?

If not, I think it would be great if a council member would consider posting here and making himself or herself available so that we may ask them some questions. I know it would go a long way in getting my vote next election.

[oldetowne]

There is, but if I were that person, I would start fresh under a new name if I was going to admit who I was.

[GoldShield]

A while back, in one of the other threads, there was a discussion about the pros and cons of posting annonymously. Even W.Com weighed in. Some were in favor and some were not. WC decided not to "out" anyone - even if he could (which is not always possible).

Some of the posted names are transparent and others are not. I will not reiterate what has already been discussed; you can ferret that out.

I can assure you that there are council members who are posting here and doing so in annonymity. I have absolutely no problem with that. I will not divulge who is who, neither now nor later.

The best reason for annonymity is the freedom of expression which it provides. I am not sure that more weight should be given to the opinions of a council member anyway. Each of them is just your or my neighbor - no better, no worse. They have taken upon themselves the responsibilities of trying to do the best they can for the Town while being faithful to their own philosophical standards.

Come come, mocmoc! You should be more concerned with facts and not opinions anyway. Verifiable and appropriately viewed facts, not opinions, are the important elements in reaching concensus; decisions would come much easier. The Council will always get itself into trouble when it ignores the obvious and substitutes the expedient.

You should be more concerned with your own studying of an issue and weighing of facts (not knee-jerk hearsay or off-the-cuff feelings or vague impressions from a drinking buddy, nail-salon friend or an over-the-fence neighbor.)

You want to "ask them some questions"? Go to the Council meetings, their workshops, their subcommittee meetings and ask them. Meet them where they work and play and ask them there. Their phone numbers are all listed in the phone book, in the annual town calendar, or from the Town Clerk. Call them up and ask them. Get your answers.

Just don't confuse what you will be given with hard facts (which would be verifiable and reducible to hardcopy).

[Wethersfield.com]

MocMoc, you bring up a valid point and a great idea. I will start anther category for questions to the Council members.

[oldetowne]

Then this whole forum will become a public record under the Freedom of Information Act.

[TheFreshman]

I agree with Gold once again!

[MrsB]

I think that the town council members should read this forum, but not necessarily post on the topics as TOWN COUNCIL members.

My concern is that the often aggressive nature of some of our posters would have a tendency to come out on the TC poster. Look, we all know that there is many a online forum where the posters are a zillion times more argumentative and in your face then that person is in real life.

It is only fair that at least while in office the TC members are treated with respect and courtesy. If you have something to say to them by all means make an appointment to see them during office hours. Then if you choose to tell them off or point fingers, hey that’s your deal.

I would hate to see some of the posters get brave and mouthy with a TC member in this forum and have them lose respect for all of us and for the work that several of us do in the community educating our citizens on the issues.

[GoldShield]

oldtowne wrote:
Then this whole forum will become a public record under the Freedom of Information Act.

I have got be believe that you are jesting about the FOI; so I will give you and wink and a grin ;D.

For others (who did not understand what I write or how I write), let me lay it out in simple terms: the FOI controls public access to public information, by, to and from a legally constituted public body in its official capacity in legally constituted meetings or services. {Some FOI maven, correct me if I am wrong. Others can pour through the information at: www.state.ct.us/foi/ the CT Freedom of Information Commission}

A nebulous area, however, is that of communications to/from individual members of an official part of the Government (boards, commissions, agencies, councils, etc.). Yet undecided is the issue of whether or not some accounting and recording of these contacts with the public must be maintained by Town Council members interacting with members of the public by telephone and other electronic media. Though the CT FOIC has discussed this, as of the moment it is not required of Town Councilors - yet!

Now if five or more Councilors were on line at the same time (e.g. chat room analogous to a conference call), with or without the public providing input or requiring output, then that probably would be FOI regulated. Is that likely to happen; I don't think so.

So, Councilors, tune in, turn on, and (NO, don't drop out, but) speak out - here or in any other venue - cloaked or uncloaked.

[oldetowne]

Thanks GS - I appreciate it when someone understands things.

A little clarification, however, and forgive me for using the Cliff Notes version.

If 5 or more members of the Council are on the forum simultaneously, then there is an issue as to whether it constitutes an illegal "public meeting".

Correspondence in any tangible form to or from a public official (including an individual Town Council member) may be a "public record" and subject to both the disclosure and retention requirements of FOIA under certain circumstances, primarily pertaining to (1) whether it deals with the public's business and (2) the nature and content of that written or tangible communication or correspondence and whether it is substantive or merely, in laymen's terms, jibber-jabber.

[GoldShield]

oldetowne wrote:
"If 5 or more members of the Council are on the forum simultaneously, then there is an issue as to whether it constitutes an illegal "public meeting"."

That is my understanding too - unless! appropriate public notice is given 24 hours in advance for what amounts to a "special" (unscheduled) meeting, and which notice would have to include an agenda (list of tasks to be accomplished). If the nature of the meeting is related to the functioning of the town government, this would apply.

If it were the 5 Councilors in the same x-rated chat room, I don't think it would apply and thus it would not be an illegal public meeting; other than unlikely, I am not sure what that would be called. ;D

[oldetowne]

it would be called a caucus

[mocmoc]

I get a sense from the replies that there may be one or more council members who already post on this board. I don't know or care about the FOI rules but I do know that a member of our council should have the political courage to identify him or herself when asked.

What message does it send when elected leaders can run to a board a post in anonymity? If they don't have the guts to acknowledge that they are members of the council can we really trust what they are saying or are they spreading BS?

That being said, I challenge any past poster to have the political courage and come out from hiding and acknowledge if you are a member of our council.

Regardless of your positions, you will have gained my respect for being honest.

[MrsB]

I would be suprised if there have been posts by TC members. I would be even more surprised if anyone took up your offer. They may lurk but I don't think they post.

[GoldShield]

mocmoc wrote: ... I challenge any past poster to have the political courage and come out from hiding and acknowledge if you are a member of our council. Regardless of your positions, you will have gained my respect for being honest.

Come, Come, mocmoc. You are so full of it you don't even see your own hypocracy conveniently hiding (with the rest of us) in annonymity. You, me, they, others enjoy the benefits and safety of cloaked posting.

As has been said by Bonnie Therrien: "This is a sick town." Others have characterized Wethersfield as a very "political town.'' I would call Wethersfield a very human town with all of the strengths and weaknesses of the human condition. It's those human weaknesses that must give us pause. Combined, these are three very good reasons for the posting Councilors to uncloak in Town of Wethersfield events only.

Scotty, beam this guy out of here! ;D

[mocmoc]

Thank you Captain Kirk. I could almost hear the music playing in the background.