In a review of Atlanta architecture published for the Olympics, a foreign visitor remarked we need not worry about a revolution here as there is no place the people can gather to form a mob or pass along fiery rhetoric.
While public meetings with our county’s sole commissioner aren’t exactly the ground where you would expect a revolution to be ignited, meeting times produce the same pacifying result: You’ll not likely encounter an angry mob at 9 a.m. on a Friday morning.
Pickens County government’s standard meeting time on the fourth Friday of each month has stood during at least the past three administrations – more than a decade.
But the workday conflict inherent at that time became self-evident in the last commissioner’s meeting, when a group discussing their subdivision streets said several spouses and neighbors also wanted to attend the meeting but could not because of job schedules.
One person said he had made a choice to attend the meeting even though it would cost him financially (from lost wages, one assumes).
Commissioner Rob Jones responded that he is always accessible to the public, thus diminishing the need for accessible public meetings. And Jones is telling the truth about being open to discussion at most any time.
From reporting duties at this newspaper, we can testify that Jones is always quick to return a call or arrange to meet. And Jones, probably more than any of his recent predecessors, is out in the public. Rarely does a public event occur without our commissioner making an appearance.
But there is a big difference between meeting a group over coffee for a discussion and presenting a forum where issues are put forward to the public-at-large.
At times, a meeting between the commissioner and one group or person might be the most productive. With road problems, for instance, it might be best for county officials to go out, look over the asphalt and discuss solutions with neighbors involved.
Even such impromptu gatherings are legally public meetings. Our sole commissioner, being the entire voting quorum of this county’s government, is a full-time, walking public meeting.
But there are also times when issues need an airing before a cross-section of county residents. For that, only a public forum works, and it ought to be scheduled when working folk can attend without making special arrangements.
Someone pushing a new agenda––whether measures to address stray animals here or moving to a multi-man commission––needs a public venue. Meetings with the commissioner should do more than just bend his ear about a problem. They should be opportunities to inform the public also.
One objection to a new meeting time may be true: few people will show up regardless of the time.
Progress reporters cover the county planning commission, city councils and the school board. All meet after work on week nights. More often than not, all attendees could ride in one car.
Commissioner Jones is not the problem. He inherited a standard operating procedure on meeting times. But he could be the commissioner who brings a solution.
It would require no special provision to change to a new county meeting time. Changes occur now to accommodate holidays. By the power vested in our commissioner, he could simply declare a 7 p.m. meeting time starting next month (hopefully on a day other than Friday).
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