Thursday, September 25, 2014

Decorum at City Commission Meetings

Comment Up

In the latest Rasmussen Poll, only eight percent (8%) think most members of Congress get reelected because they do a good job representing their constituents. Seventy percent (70%) say most get reelected because election rules are rigged to benefit members of Congress. That’s up four points from last month and the highest level of cynicism in five years of regular surveying. Twenty-three percent (23%) are undecided. That's what the city commission did (rigging) when it exempted itself from the Uniform Municipal Election Act, another story.

This entire polling mindset trickles down to local politics. If you are at home watching meetings, you miss all of the commissioner smirks, all of the tempers, all of the rolling of eyes, and all of the "playing politics," enough so that there are plenty of times you just want to throw your hands up in the air and say, "Why bother?"

On Tuesday night, a few on the dais, and one in particular, was irritated with a few commissioners who did not approve of the budget.  This was under PUBLIC HEARINGS.  Public means just that. This IS the time for discussion--between commissioners and the public. No one should have to be intimidated to vote in lockstep whether it be the 365th day of the year or the first day.

A citizen had legitimate questions regarding the ECR facility on what they are going to build, why we need it and the overall cost of $112,794,000.00. None of his questions and concerns were addressed.  Why not? Why should citizens be treated so contemptuously and just mindlessly accept the decisions of this commission and then have to be ignored (other than McVoy who did make a statement) or publicly assassinated?

If a commissioner is going to address another commissioner, he should be cordial and use decorum--something greatly lacking these days. I was happy to to see Commissioner Amoroso standing up for his convictions and expressing his displeasure with the political rhetoric by the Vice Mayor who looked like he was about to explode during his "speech." Amoroso stated, "He's playing politics." Setting a budget IS a BIG deal ($167 million) so why should any commissioner  get upset with the process?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope that Commissioner Maxwell will be making a very public apology for his very public hissy fit . Both to his fellow Commissioners and to the public. We really do need a better class of politician in Palm Beach County.

Anonymous said...

Scott is a bully and very foul mouthed at that. Very unprofessional rep. for our city, I wonder who really back this guy. We all in LW deserve better than this!

Anonymous said...

I was reminded of past satire done by a local blogger, Tom mcgow. He used to photo shop faces into all sorts of situations. Not one commissioner or mayor ever came after him. They could take the heat and they weren't bullies.

Lynn Anderson said...

Tom was great at what he did and his Photoshopping was superior. One of his favorite targets was Cara Jennings as I recall. He did his own thing and wrote as he saw it. We didn't always agree but usually we saw this crazy political city as a never ending source for interesting thoughts, comments and satire.

Anonymous said...

Maxwell is a disgrace to this city and does absolutely nothing. All he boasts about is his superior property management skills.. which he has none. Good for Andy. HE makes an effort. He constantly volunteers and is proactive. I, along with many others, have voted him in twice now. Time to find a kennel for Maxwell. No wonder his wife looks so miserable all the time

Anonymous said...

Pam, Scott are bullies. I have never seen it any worse than it is right now at city hall. They have ruined it for nice people.