NORTH ADAMS -- Backed by the support of every City Council member, Councilor Michael Bloom is graduating to the role of council president in the new year, a position he will be holding for the fourth time in his 22 years in city government.
"Primarily, I just want to run a good meeting that moves along within the agenda items, stays on target, and keeps people respectful and productive so the council can go about its business," he said. "I'm looking forward to helping the city move along."
The likely vice president, Bloom added, is Lisa M. Blackmer, a two-term council veteran.
According to Bloom, the biggest change the council will see under his guidance concerns the tenor and organization of meetings.
"For many communities throughout the state, citizen input is generally found at the beginning of the meeting, where people are allowed to comment on the agenda," he said. "I want the council rules to reflect that, so citizens will have the opportunity to speak during the hearing of visitors. This way, we will be able to emulate many Massachusetts cities and add to the decorum of meetings."
The new organization would not be unique to North Adams, Bloom said, but is actually the chosen model for most cities in the commonwealth.
"When discussion sways from the point at hand and becomes something much wider, it often enters arenas not appropriate for discussion," he said. "It becomes a type of meeting
that most people would find not in order for a city council."Bloom hopes council members and Mayor Richard Alcombright will support a clearer separation between the council's agenda and citizen participation.
"I think the support is there. It would satisfy the public's concerns while allowing the councilors to do their jobs -- it's a win-win for everybody."
The 2012 Organization of City Government Meeting will be held Monday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m., in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The public event will feature the oaths of office being taken by Alcombright, city councilors, and members of the North Adams School Committee and the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District members.
Changes in councilors' committee and liaison assignments are also scheduled for release Monday.
According to Bloom, the council will immediately occupy itself with drafting the next budget cycle. Bloom, a longtime member of the Finance Committee and its current chairman, is stepping down from that post to assume the council presidency. He said he trusts the current committee.
"I know we have qualified people to continue doing the finances," he said. "At the end of the day, we should have a balanced budget. I don't see any drastic changes from last year's budget, and of course, we hope the state continues to provide the city with its promised funds."
Bloom added that with new growth in fiscal 2012 -- such as the Walmart Supercenter planned for Curran Highway -- the city should be in great shape.
To reach Phil Demers,
email pdemers@thetranscript.com.
Source: http://www.thetranscript.com/ci_19651031?source=rss_viewed
ascii art ascii art andrew mason once in a blue moon gwar guitarist gwar guitarist tower heist
No comments:
Post a Comment