| Nibley
pushes agenda deadline for council up to 72 hours before
meetings
By Kelsey Koenen
November 2, 2007 | NIBLEY -- After discussing public
notice requirements that the City Council hopes to put
in place, Mayor Gerald Knight proposed that agendas
for city council meetings be locked into place 72 hours
before the meeting takes place. Agendas will be posted
on Nibley City's website as well as one other posting
in the community.
In the past, agendas were only required to be delivered
24 hours prior to meetings, according to city ordinance,
and were never posted online.
"I worry that citizens expect us as a smaller community
to be flexible or fluid, somebody doesn't want to be
put off three weeks before they come before you," City
Manager Larry Anhder said.
Knight agreed, saying he wanted to create a more orderly
atmosphere, helping the citizens to feel a sense of
organization and assurance with what the council is
doing for the city.
"The more order we have, the easier it becomes for
everybody, and that's why I'm pushing for this," Knight
said.
All of this is in an effort to have fewer last minute
requests for council meetings. Anhder said that Nibley
is now experiencing some of these growing city changes,
and residents need notice of activity in a constantly
changing neighborhood.
"If, for example, Youth Council comes and would like
to make a report, we still have the option to put them
on last minute," Knight said.
If there is the necessity, nothing is set in stone,
but Knight said that with the parameters established
up front, there will be less confusion.
Nibley city is required by law to send the agenda
for their meeting to a community newspaper. The Herald
Journal, current recipient, is not required by law
(according to council) to publish these agendas that
are printed the day of the meetings.
"We wish they would announce it sooner," Councilman
Thayne Mickelson said in response to the questioning
of an idealistic prospect.
Knight said they have no control over whether it's
printed at all, much less when, for the public to be
notified.
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