There are things that happen regarding Village Council meetings that don’t add up. We seem to get a monthly dose of that.
Do they think we don’t pay attention?
With the Thursday Council Meeting mysteriously canceled, the Tuesday agenda grew to 603 pages.
Anyone who has not taken the “Evelyn Wood speed reading course” will not be able to read and digest the 603 pages of information that are germane to the meeting and the decisions that will be made.
The day before a Council meeting, a majority of the council members attend a briefing with staff. This is so they can ask questions before they vote on the issues.
This also eliminates discussions at public meetings since council members now know how to vote.
Is this a benefit to the public? If the goal is to shorten meetings, then, I guess, this is a success.
If the goal is for the public to be informed as to what influenced the council members votes, then it is a dismal failure.
Have you noticed that at most meetings lately the Council seems to whisk through meetings at breakneck speed, with virtually no questions and little discussion? It appears they came knowing how to vote due to their individual personal staff briefings.
Why not share these briefings with their adoring public?
It appears that public comment gets to be a nuisance, ruining council/staff plan for shorter meetings. No need to provide the public with details or justification for their decisions, just speed things up.
Disrespectful and a violation of their oath.
Much on the agenda has no requirement for public comment – various reports along with Council, Manager and Attorney discussions.
This is often followed by a simple “thumbs up” to give staff their “direction” for future efforts. No official vote? No comments from the public.
These “thumbs up” requests are often providing the go ahead for major future efforts, with the public having no right to speak or hear why council supports the issue.
Doesn’t the Village Attorney know that our charter, Section 5, (8) item c says – “All actions of the village council shall be by ordinance, resolution, or motion.”
No mention of “thumbs up” as to council directions in the Village Charter, our Bible.
The Council, Village Manager and Village Attorney all seem confused. We are required to have a public meetings for decision-making.
How often does the Village Manager take action because a majority of council said “okay” when polled by phone in between meetings?
Last week we pointed out some of the actions taken without a vote (not even a thumbs up?) at a public meeting:
These are important issues to the residents of Islamorada.
Speak to us.
In Florida we have the “Sunshine Law.”
What is this sacred law supposed to do? It is intended to empower the Public.
The ultimate goal of a “Sunshine Law” is to ensure government accountability and transparency. This is to prevent backroom deals and “side conversations” initiated by members.
“Sunshine” is meant to empower citizens so they can be informed participants in their own governance.
Is it really working as intended here? We don’t think so.
Section 286.011, F.S., provides that no resolution, rule, regulation or formal action shall be considered binding except as taken or made at an open meeting.
We need to trust that our own government adheres to Florida Law.
Regarding the cancellation of the Thursday’s village meeting, we are guided by the Village Council Meeting Procedures, which states:
“The Village Council has complete discretion and flexibility …. to hold regular meetings at other dates, times or locations, or to cancel or reschedule any meetings.”
And all decisions made by council are to be made by majority vote at a public meeting by motion, resolution, or ordinance.
Thursday’s cancellation does not appear to follow the legal requirements – and is certainly not in any way logical.
We were inflicted with a lengthy 603 page agenda. Now it will be dealt with in one meeting, instead of two.
To read and digest 603 pages in two meetings was an impossible task. To do it in one meeting is an insult to our intelligence.
It encourages both the council and the public to skip over important facts, figures and decisions to hurry to get home before midnight.
Council: be professional, and show us some respect.
We residents have common sense and we know when we are being played. We put you there to serve, not to ignore us.
As I have said so many times: Elections have consequences.
Yours,
Tom
