Communicate, Communicate... cont.

Today there was a Letter to the Editor of the Oak Ridger by the Charter Commission's Secretary inviting participation in their forthcoming meeting on July 10th. She points out many of the outreach efforts that have also been mentioned here over the last couple of days.

This letter also illustrates the kind issues that I have also discussed.

For example, she states, "Article III will be discussed at the July 10 meeting, as well as the rest of Article II." This rightfully implies that they have been through part of Article II. But information about what was discussed in June is not available because, "Minutes are taken to the clerk's office and the library, and put online after they are approved at Commission meetings."

So after the meeting on July 10th, we will find out what was discussed at their previous meeting on June 12th, and using the Comprehensive List of suggested changes, we could then identify the Article II topics that weren't discussed in June, and assume that they may be topics in July.

The problem is that we can't do this calculation until after July 10th. What we need to prepare for the July meeting is not available until after that meeting is finished.

And, by the way, we should go and look up Article II and III in the City Charter to understand what are the general topics being considered.

So, let's at least do that. If we go to the City web site, we can find the Charter. The Charter Commission's web site also has a handy link to it as well.

Article II is talking about the City Council and the Mayor and how they conduct their business. Article III is talking about the Powers of the City and the Council for appointing boards, making contracts, and other legal details.

Now we can go to the Charter Commission's site and see the current proposals or make our own. Our changes should reference the Article and Section we want to change, including both the before and after language for our proposal.

This is all pretty complicated. It is no wonder that only a few names keep reoccurring among the people proposing changes. They must be highly motivated. Most of us have a high hurdle to cross just to follow along much less express our ideas since we are not intent on making massive changes.