[Winona Online Democracy] Thank you Tim on the clarifications regarding meetings. I am sure as time goes on and different meetings are held this information will continue to be helpful not only in this discussion but in others as well. I am wondering if you have more specific information or guidelines, or know where I may get them regarding closed meetings, notification of meetings, and open public meetings. Does anyone on WOD know where a person not on a government council or committee can get these guidelines, online or otherwise. Thanks Janice Turek ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim Breza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 10:17 PM Subject: RE: [Winona] Mayor Miller's meeting on Annexation Issues
> Ms. Turek make some good points and some bad assumptions. > > First, I want to assure everyone that each of the Winona Council members has > a vote and do use it in any formal proceeding. The Mayor may speak on behalf > of the city on many issues, but it is not a binding statement or position. > The same can be said of the remarks of any council member speaking in the > same way. > > As to meeting notification. The mayor or any council member may call a > meeting when less than four people are present and then no notice needs to > be given. If there are four elected city council persons and/or mayor coming > together for a meeting, it is a public meeting and proper public notice > needs to be given. The mayor has done this for this referenced meeting. > > As to why more city people turn up for these annexation meetings than those > of the township, is it because only a small number of vocal people are > concerned about the issue? Also having said this, I am sure that some > candidates for mayor or city council will try to make this the number one > issue of this election. This is the power of people that have half million > dollar houses in the township and don't want to have any neighbors. I guess > the cost of privacy in Winona comes at a steep price, but in other cities in > Winona county, there is little cost because there is no discussion of > annexation, development, or how your tax dollars work. > > I have to ask why there is limited discussions on annexation? Is it because > the county and township officials don't want to keep comprehensive records > of their meeting for "liability" reasons? This is just a matter of keeping > the public in the dark while they conduct the people's business. > > Tim Breza > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 1:55 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Winona] Mayor Miller's meeting on Annexation Issues > > > [Winona Online Democracy] > > > In the Winona Post on Sunday, there was an announcement for a public forum > to be > held by Mayor Miller on the annexation issues. It is to be held on > Wednesday > at 6:00 PM in room 218 at the SE VoTech. > > This is the second time the City has posted a public forum with extremely > short > notice. Even though it appears Mayor Miller will attend by himself, I assume > since he represents the City that this is a City forum. I have looked and > could > not find a posting in the Daily News and the posting was small and > indiscreet > in the Post. None of the Town Board or County Board members that I talked to > got notification on this meeting. > > At the last forum, there were probably more city officials than concerned > citizens. I am not sure why, but my feeling is because of the poor > notification of this type of meeting. We have many more at our Township > meetings and I believe this is because there is ample notification. > > Three days notice, small, indescreet listing in the paper, and no formal > notice > to those who should be there, does not convey the importance of this > meeting. > > I believe more notice and formal invites to all parties concerned would lead > to > more productive conversations and better attendance to these meetings. > > I am wondering if this is a feeble attempt by the City to say that they > tried to > hold public forums and no one showed up therefore there is not much > interest. > > I am wondering what the people on the WOD feel is ample and acceptable > invitations to this type of meeting. Is this a common way for the City to > handle issues? Is it appropriate or is it a tactic? > > Janice Turek > > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program. > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page > at > http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
