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Today's word on journalism

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Career advice:

"Coleridge was a drug addict. Poe was an alcoholic. Marlowe was stabbed by a man whom he was treacherously trying to stab. Pope took money to keep a woman's name out of a satire, then wrote a piece so that she could still be recognized anyhow. Chatterton killed himself. Byron was accused of incest. Do you still want to be a writer -- and if so, why?"

--Bennett Cerf (1898-1971), co-founder of Random House (Thanks to alert WORDster Tom McGuire)

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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