Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Form Of Government topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee replaces a leading survey item on government form with open-text question
Summary
Facing concerns the draft question was leading toward open town meeting, the committee replaced Question 2 with an open-text prompt asking residents what they like or dislike about the current form of government; the amendment passed unanimously on roll call.
Committee members objected that the original Question 2, which framed open town meeting as an alternative, "steers" respondents. After debate a member moved to strike the original phrasing and replace it with an open-text question asking residents to describe what they like or dislike about the current form of government. The committee approved the amended wording by roll call, 7-0.
During discussion Presenter said the charter begins with form of government and the survey should measure whether residents care about changing it; critics said that follow-up open text rather than a sales-pitch framing would be more neutral. The committees action keeps a question about form of government but reframes it as an invitation for residents to explain preferences rather than a forced choice.
