Mayor Meyers has already stated that he will NOT permit public comment at the special council meeting. In August, as previously posted here, this was the mayor's response to my question as to whether or not public comment would be permitted:
Ray,
There will not be public input. I believe the Council will have the best and most information with the process to make a decision for the appointment. As you know, residents may always contact their representatives to give comment about individuals who apply.
Jeff
Look at what he says. The "best and most information with the process" Huh? But this is the one that gets me: "residents may always contact their representatives to give comment". What is missing is that if a resident contacts their rep, that information is NOT made a part of the public record (minutes) of the meeting. What public comment does the mayor not want to see "on the record"?
Why do I say he has ignored his oath of office? I will restate section 3 of the Bill of Rights of the Kansas Constitution, a document the mayor has taken an oath to support.
3. Right of peaceable assembly; petition. The people have the right to assemble, in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the government, or any department thereof, for the redress of grievances.
I also sent an email to the 7 council members who would be doing the interviews as to their feelings about the mayor's decision NOT to allow public comment.
Three of our council members support public input (Pflumm, Kemmling and Distler). One council member does not (Sawyer). One takes both sides (Sandifer) and two lacked the intestinal fortitude and courtesy of even replying (Neighbor and Vaught). Guess neither one of those two wanted their thoughts to be public.
More info on the above at:
http://shawneeray.blogspot.com/2013/09/which-council-members-support-citizen.html
http://shawneeray.blogspot.com/2013/09/neal-sawyer-responds.html
WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid.
If you would like to comment about this post, or any other post on this blog, or about anything, please go to http://www.shawneeray.proboards.com
Look at what he says. The "best and most information with the process" Huh? But this is the one that gets me: "residents may always contact their representatives to give comment". What is missing is that if a resident contacts their rep, that information is NOT made a part of the public record (minutes) of the meeting. What public comment does the mayor not want to see "on the record"?
Why do I say he has ignored his oath of office? I will restate section 3 of the Bill of Rights of the Kansas Constitution, a document the mayor has taken an oath to support.
3. Right of peaceable assembly; petition. The people have the right to assemble, in a peaceable manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to petition the government, or any department thereof, for the redress of grievances.
I also sent an email to the 7 council members who would be doing the interviews as to their feelings about the mayor's decision NOT to allow public comment.
Three of our council members support public input (Pflumm, Kemmling and Distler). One council member does not (Sawyer). One takes both sides (Sandifer) and two lacked the intestinal fortitude and courtesy of even replying (Neighbor and Vaught). Guess neither one of those two wanted their thoughts to be public.
More info on the above at:
http://shawneeray.blogspot.com/2013/09/which-council-members-support-citizen.html
http://shawneeray.blogspot.com/2013/09/neal-sawyer-responds.html
WARNING!!!!!! The City Manager of Shawnee has determined that local bloggers post items that may contain bad or misinformation. Please read these posts with care and determine for yourself whether the information is valid.
If you would like to comment about this post, or any other post on this blog, or about anything, please go to http://www.shawneeray.proboards.com
