The value of a vote

For anyone who has ever been curious about the "inner workings" of the Council, we had a lively email exchange over the past week that I wanted to share.

It started last Monday Aug 20 with an email from Town Hall staff:

To all,

After consultation with Matt Hall and Michael Ecke, the Budget Committee and Special Council meeting dates have been revised as follows:

* Monday, August 27, 2007, 7:30 p.m. - Budget Committee (jointly with Council) for review of CEP
* Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 7:30 p.m. - Budget Committee (jointly with Council) for review of CEP, if needed
* Thursday, August 30, 2007, 7:30 p.m. - Special Council meeting, including adoption of CEP

We will get the agendas out to you all ASAP. Thank you.

That was followed up last Friday with another email from Town Hall staff:

To all, Here are the agendas for the August 27th and 28th Budget Committee meetings (both in the attached document) - thanks.

Then there was this email yesterday morning from (one Council member) and sent to the Council and staff:

Why is the scheduled Tuesday special meeting being moved to Thursday? The fact that a Tuesday budget/council meeting remains on the schedule "if needed" tells me the Council can have the special meeting to adopt cap budget on Tuesday as originally planned.

We block out 2nd and 4th Tuesdays for Council meetings and schedule the rest of our lives on other days of the week. I have a conflict with Thursday 30th so I doubt I'll be able to attend Council meeting.

Please advise. Thanks.

Then I sent out this email yesterday afternoon:

I think we should stay with the original plan and vote on the capital budget on Tuesday.

Then there was this email from town staff yesterday afternoon:

To all,

Chairman Hall asked me to advise you all that my email of August 20, 2007 regarding a change in meeting dates was prompted by the concern that the Budget Committee would not have a quorum on August 27 (tonight) and might not have a quorum on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, since (one Council member) is due to return from a family trip late in the day on that date. Any delay in (that Council member's) travel plans that are out of (that Council member's) control (weather-related cancelled flight, for example) could potentially create a delay in the action on the CEP. Therefore, he felt it best to set a "date certain" for the full Council to vote on the CEP on Thursday, August 30, 2007. This also provides ample time for council members to review, digest and prepare comment for the council's vote on adoption.

Mr. Hall also asked that, in the future, you please notify him directly and in a more timely manner if you have any availability issues.

Thank you.

Which got this response from me yesterday afternoon:

concern that the Budget Committee would not have a quorum on August 27 (tonight) and might not have a quorum on Tuesday, August 28, 2007

huh? As Chairman, Mike Ecke set the meeting. So if someone simply asked me if I would be at those two meetings, wouldn't it be self-evident that there would be a quorum?

felt it best to set a "date certain" for the full Council to vote on the CEP.

Huh? What is meant by “full council?” It seems as though neither Tuesday nor Thursday will have all nine Council members. So, what's the benefit of Thursday over Tuesday?

From the voters perspective, I’d suggest that Tuesday would make more sense.

Ok, ok... I can't say that I really expected a response. But I do wonder... are the votes of each Council member equal?

Btw, I intend on attending all Council meetings this week.

Tim White
Town Council, Budget Committee