Minutes of Board of Alderman

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if I'm missing something in the board of alderman minutes on the city website.  They read just like the agenda, except noting if resolutions were approved or not.  But there is almost no news content there.  Do I have to attend these minutes to know more?   I can't get out of work in time to attend these meetings, but I would read anything they would put out there.  The SN and SJ only have so much content, and the other source is word of mouth and community meetings, but it would be a part time job to attend all of these things in order to really know what's going on a large number of local items.

Comments

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

That's what formal minutes generally are. It's rare for a public board or corporation to compile or release detailed meeting minutes.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Usually, the local news outlets' coverage is a much better source for a detailed play-by-play of what happened at the meeting.

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

I like their coverage when they have it, unfortunately its not exhaustive.

[masswich.livejournal.com]

Actually, I don't agree with that, at least on the public side. Most boards and commissions that I am familiar with outline a summary of the discussion involved, sometimes even with public comments outlined. The minimum requirement under the law is to outline any actions taken, so these minutes probably meet the legal requirement, but not much more.

In general, I think Somerville has a long way to go in terms of posting agendas and meeting results on the web- better than Medford but far behind places like Brookline. For example, when there is a "communication" to the Board of Aldermen on their agenda, why isn't the "communication" also shown? I hope the new web person they are trying to hire makes some progress on this. It would also be nice if the agenda was posted more than 1/2 day in advance, so I could plan to attend if I wished.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Most boards and commissions that I am familiar with outline a summary of the discussion involved, sometimes even with public comments outlined.

That is not my experience: I believe that that is much more helpful than the "agenda with actions taken" style of minutes, but in my experience the latter is far more common.

However, I wholeheartedly agree that it would be much more helpful if the Somerville aldermen's meeting minutes were more detailed. Perhaps if people contacted their individual aldermen, they might be able to pressure those folks to make that happen.

[masswich.livejournal.com]

It probably depends on the city- check out Brookline's web page to see an exhaustive (probably excessive) set of meeting notices and minutes.

[alphacygni]

Over the past several years, I have seen some formerly prolific minutes-generating boards retreat to the bare legal minimum on the advice of their legal counsel.

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this is any help, but the meetings are broadcast on SCAT.

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

OK, good to know, I wish they would put it on their website or youtube.

[djdreilinger.livejournal.com]

I don't know if SCAT rebroadcasts, but City Cable broadcasts the meetings live and then reruns them a few times each week... you know, in case you have insomnia*. Ch. 13 on RCN and 16 on Comcast.


*j/k.

[mistresshellena.livejournal.com]

I totally read that subject line as "minutes of bored aldermen"

ha.

[shava23.livejournal.com]

I'm sure they spend many minutes that way...