The city cannot “throw out the baby with the bathwater.” Residents who work must be considered, as their time is valuable also, and they certainly are on their own time when addressing City Council with their concerns.
I, for one, think that the oral communications period is vital to the political health of the community.
The English-speaking residents in this community do not have the two or three TV channels to keep them informed like the Armenian community does on local events and issues.
Looking from that perspective, to take away the opportunity to speak and address local issues by the English-speaking residents, at a convenient time slot, would be a grave injustice to everyone.
Hopefully something can be worked out that is more acceptable than having members of the community wait excessively to address their particular concerns before the City Council.
CAROLE WELING
Glendale
Council meetings can be more efficient
The changes Mayor John Drayman announced April 15 should make Glendale City Council meetings shorter, while still allowing everyone to comment on any city issue they desire (“Mayor Drayman faces first salvo,” Thursday).
Oral communications at the end of the meeting might actually happen at a reasonable hour.
Not only will presentations be done monthly instead of weekly, but a group receiving a presentation is to have one spokesperson for three minutes — replacing the tradition of no time limits for an unlimited number of speakers. Requiring council members to hold all their comments until the end of staff presentations will also help.
