Sunday, January 25, 2009

Official City Calendar Needed

Wouldn't it be nice to look in one place and be able to find the dates and times of official meetings held by Woodstock City government?

An official calendar of City meetings would not be all that hard to generate. Most meetings are conducted as Regular Meetings and held on the same weekday of the month, at the same time and in the same location. For example, City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7:00PM at City Hall.

Many of the Commissions and Boards meet at regularly-scheduled times; these are called Regular Meetings. But you have to be a cyber-gymnast to find their schedules.

Other Commissions, such as the Liquor Commission and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, do not meet at regularly-schedules times. These two meet only "as needed"; these irregularly-scheduled meetings are referred to as Special Meetings. They can be called on as little as 48 hours' notice.

Notice is given to the members of the commission or board and is posted at City Hall. Notice is also faxed only to the mainstream media. So you need not only be a cyber-gymnast to learn of these meetings, you'd better by a cyber-acrobat. If you don't wish to go to City Hall every 24-48 hours to inspect the bulletin board, then it is necessary to find the right City webpage in time to learn of these Special Meetings.

The meetings of City Commissions and Boards are public meetings. Attendance by the public might increase, if the public had half a chance of learning easily when such meetings are held. Even the regular meetings should be easily visible on the City's website.

Coming up?

Tomorrow - Monday, Jan. 26. 7:00PM City Hall. Liquor Commission meets to decide the fate of Mr. Patel's interest in purchasing Shop n Save/Miska's Liquors and a liquor license for the new business taking the location where SuperStarz operated.

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