Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Adams council asks administration to propose communications improvements, considers quarterly newsletter
Summary
Councilors discussed improving agenda posting, committee reports and public outreach. The council voted to refer recommendations to the administration with a return date of May 12 and several councilors volunteered to develop a pilot newsletter.
Councilors on Feb. 24 discussed a set of measures to improve public communications and transparency and voted to refer the list to the administration with a return date of May 12.
Council members described recurring concerns from residents about late agenda postings, difficulty finding committee materials, and the need for clearer committee reports. Suggestions included aiming to post agendas and materials one week in advance when possible, ensuring committee reports are submitted for packet inclusion, expanding the mayor’s and city’s use of the website and social media, and piloting a quarterly newsletter summarizing committee activity and council actions.
Several councilors offered practical steps: asking committee chairs to post agendas in advance; inviting local media and Northern Berkshire Community Television to carry regular updates; and starting an ad hoc group or newsletter produced by one or two councilors with the option to circulate through local outlets and cable channel 1303. The administration agreed to work on improved internal processes for referrals and to respond with a set of proposed actions by the council’s stated return date in May.
