Public commenters urge minority-party representation and more in-person meetings

Three members of the public spoke during the meeting’s public participation segment and raised recurring civic concerns.

Why it matters: Public commenters framed the charter work as tied to representation and transparency. Their remarks spotlight local attitudes that the commission may consider when drafting charter provisions that affect appointments, public hearings, and participation rules.

Lisa Bridal of 19 Shorefront Park told the commission she had not been informed of invitations to one meeting and said minority-party council members are sometimes excluded from discussions. "I texted her, and she didn't she said she knew nothing about this meeting, nor was she invited," Bridal said about a minority-party council member she named. Bridal urged the commission to consider minority-party representation, saying: "Without better check and balance procedures like minority party representation or public referendums, I still think the 4 year term is unlikely to pass."

Rich Bonifant of 17 Park Hill Avenue urged the commission to encourage more in-person meetings for council members and appointed commissions, and reminded the panel that some capital items (such as fire trucks) require years of planning and early capital authorization. "There's got to be some... encourage more in-person meetings," Bonifant said. He also cautioned that standalone referendums can fail to reach turnout thresholds that make results dispositive.

A third speaker, Diane (surname not specified), urged the commission to hold a public forum before any final decisions so residents can discuss options in a less time‑limited format than three-minute public comments. "I think it would be worthwhile," she said, recommending advance materials so the public can comment on a clearer proposal rather than fragments of draft language.

Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the requests and said the commission maintains an online input portal and would consider additional opportunities for public engagement before finalizing recommendations. The chair asked staff to consider whether a preliminary public forum or clearer pre-hearing materials could be scheduled ahead of formal public hearings.