Do as they say, not as they do.
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| BY GREG WALTERS |
The one
that caught my attention was the following.
· There will be no in-person Public Comments.
Please send your Public Comments to the
City Clerk at thenry@raytown.mo.us by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Monday, July 6, so
that your comments can be provided to the Board of Aldermen during the Public
Comments section of the July 7, 2020 meeting agenda. All Public Comments
received will be kept on file in the City Clerk’s office.
I
wondered why.
Other guests at Board meetings have been allowed to speak when they are discussing city business since the resumption of public meetings at City Hall.
Typically they wait in an adjoining room for their item to come up on the agenda. When the time comes they enter the room, discuss their business with the city and then leave.
It has proven to be an efficient and effective way to manage the the number of people in the Council Chamber to the six person limit.
But when it comes to Public Comments the Public is told to send their message in writing to City Hall. A copy of the written message is projected on the wall for all to read.
Other guests at Board meetings have been allowed to speak when they are discussing city business since the resumption of public meetings at City Hall.
Typically they wait in an adjoining room for their item to come up on the agenda. When the time comes they enter the room, discuss their business with the city and then leave.
It has proven to be an efficient and effective way to manage the the number of people in the Council Chamber to the six person limit.
But when it comes to Public Comments the Public is told to send their message in writing to City Hall. A copy of the written message is projected on the wall for all to read.
In my opinion, it is a half measure. Something is lost in a message when it is not delivered in person. The representation of Raytown Citizens is our most important job. If they wish to speak in public session they should be allowed to do so.
It is important to keep in mind Public Comments are limited to five minutes. Since the beginning of this calendar yea, I do not recall more than two speakers at a meeting.
Certainly the Board and Mayor can afford ten minutes of a meeting to hear what private citizens have to say.
The powers
that be (the instructions on the agenda were unsigned) should re-think this one. Using the Covid 19 Pandemic as an excuse not to hear what the public has to say can be done safely if the same rules used for other guests speaking before Board are used.
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Michael Mansur, Director of Communication
For Immediate Release
July 3, 2020
A 47-year-old Independence, MO, man has been charged in the abduction and shooting of a woman in a domestic assault today in Raytown, MO, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Tyrone Johnson, dob: 10/12/1972, faces Kidnapping, Domestic Assault, Armed Criminal Action, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Domestic Assault 2nd, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Tampering With a Physical Evidence.*
According to court records, about 6 am this morning in Raytown, a Raytown Police reserve corporal was observed by police driving quickly in the police parking lot. The reserve corporal’s personal vehicle had holes in it from gunshots and inside was a shooting victim. At 59th Street and Raytown Trafficway, the corporal saw a vehicle stopped. He saw a woman inside the vehicle. She made a statement, "Get me out of here." He began to take her to Raytown Police headquarters, when a man stepped out of the stalled car and fired shots at the corporal’s vehicle.
Later, at Truman Hospital, the woman, who was shot in the leg, told a police detective that she had been in an argument with her boyfriend, the defendant. Earlier, at a Kansas City motel, he had choked her and later forced her into his vehicle after she started to walk away, she stated.
Then, at the Raytown intersection he stopped the vehicle after she tried to get out to get into the corporal’s vehicle. The defendant, she stated, warned her he was going to shoot her before he fired shots. The defendant was taken into custody at the motel where the incident began today.
He was observed there throwing spent shell casings into a trash can.
Prosecutors requested a $150,000 bond.
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded guilty.
USE THIS LINK TO COMMENT . . . comments
USE THIS LINK TO COMMENT . . . comments
6 comments:
"There will be no in-person Public Comments"
Really? Should we be surprised?
Who was responsible for this decision?
Perhaps city staff and certain elected officials are conveniently attempting to bring 2 citizen groups to heel: those whose opinions and agendas differ from their own, thereby interrupting staff "flow", as well as any potential time wasters that could instead float them an e-mail.
If entities are once again allowed to mask up, distance and once again move about in City Hall during business hours, there's no reason why a couple-few citizens should be precluded from appearing "in propria persona" for a mere FEW MINUTES...ESPECIALLY given how infrequently the BOA meets.
More than one member of senior staff in this town of <30,000 inhabitants makes over 100K per year, do they not? If so, one would think that they would have the wherewithal to implement a set of rudimentary procedures which would ensure everyone's health and safety.
If not, therein lies an additional "concern", IOO.
I am curious about the 6 person limit at BOA meetings? As I remember unless something has changed, this is a very large room with enough room to space more that 6 people with at least 6' spacing between each!
Why are public comments not allowed? Why image them on the wall? Why not require the City Clerk to read all comments aloud?????? This seems like a First Amendment Violation to me.
Andy Whiteman
They allow several people to speak at the microphone, every meeting. At the last meeting they didn't require a mask for the lady giving prayers at the beginning nor to the pubic works staff, or even the officer in the back of the room. none of them had mask as they walked around the room.
As I reviewed the public comment section on the city's website they did not show any comments although they said there were some they displayed on the walls.
I understand the Mayor doesn't want some people peaking, heck i dont want some of them speaking myself. But it is part of the democratic process.
A few weeks ago there were several post about the sign at city hall. One person said it was easy to be read, but most said it was hard to read. Today I was in the area and looked for myself and it is very hard to read. My concern now is someone is driving around our city who must have major eye issues if they find that easy to read. Be on the look out for this person when you are on the road.
Why am I NOT surprised by the tactic being used to shut the tax payers comments out. This is absolutely ridiculous, as elected officials I would challenge you to make sure the people you represent and appear in public and be heard. That is part of your job.
Someone must have eye issues if they can read a sign? You’re kidding, right? If not, you’re just some grumpy, old person looking for something to gripe about. Get a lift!
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