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Councilor's proposal to hold Ways and Means budget hearings in daytime sent to public hearing after split vote
Summary
A proposal to amend open-meeting rules to explicitly list Ways and Means subcommittee budget hearings was ordered to a public hearing after debate about public access and staff/work schedules; one councilor voted no.
The Legislative Affairs Subcommittee voted to order a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend Revere's open-meetings rules to add the City Council Ways and Means subcommittee budget hearings to the list of meetings covered by the open-meetings chapter.
Councilor Anthony Cogliandro, sponsor of the proposal, said the change is "strictly for budget meetings only" and argued that holding budget hearings during daytime hours could help department directors who work second jobs and might encourage more seniors to attend. "Maybe we'd actually get some people from the public to show up to the meetings if it was during the day," Cogliandro said.
Opponents argued it could hurt public participation for people who work 9-to-5; Cogliandro said the meetings are available on YouTube and public access television and that written materials could be obtained from city offices. On roll call the committee recommended the ordinance be referred to a public hearing; Councilor Hass recorded a "No" vote while other members supported the referral.
The ordinance will go to a public hearing where public testimony can be heard before the full council considers any change.
