Jay, you are right on the money! Holy Cow, I thought my city was bad. I've been to meetings where they tell the public that this isn't a meeting for them to speak. But they are welcome to watch! For any of you public officials or members of city staff that get a chance to read this...Jay is 100% right. Push towards this kind of enviroment that Jay decribes and you'll always have the citizen support. Do differently and it would be better to have a millstone around your neck and thrown overboard.

For all the heat Sandy has been taking recently, its good to know their Council records its work sessions and holds them in a room small enough that hearing what is said by anyone is easy.

I wonder if Jay feels the same way about our "secretive" legislature doing all of the peoples business in their closed caucus and then coming out and telling us what they have decided.

I agree that city business should be conducted openly, but I disagree that when it is officials will "always have citizen support."

Politics is sometimes about making tough choices, choices that will alienate someone, or even big groups of someones.

This council is made up of 7 members elected by constituents to represent their interests. There are 4 districts with three “at large” members to include the Mayor in a Council/Manager form of government. With the exception of pending litigation and personnel matters, all meetings should be in public, properly noticed and operating in the “light of day.”
I am disappointed that there wasn’t a member of this council to demand that microphones be used and turned on for the benefit of those who were in attendance. Hello? Does anyone know the difference between right and wrong? Explain this situation anyway you want – bottom line: it was wrong. I would expect more from my representative and the other six members.