Community Commentary:

My first exposure to the concept of public comment at governmental bodies was in the late 1960s, when I was employed by the Los Angeles Community Colleges.

I worked in what was then called data processing and for a number of years had an office in the district headquarters when it was on Olympic Boulevard near Alvarado Street.

The board met in the same building, and my co-workers and I often attended the meetings.

There were gadflies who monopolized public comments to such a degree the rules kept being revised to increasingly restrict access by certain individuals who apparently had no self control.

I left the paid work forcein June 2001 and began volunteering and getting involved in community issues.

When I attended Glendale Unified School District Board meetings I was surprised at the lack of community involvement. Often I was, and still am, the only person in the audience without some connection to an award recipient, an employee organization, a local newspaper, or a group inviting the board to an event.

There may be more who watch on cable, but in general there’s not a lot of community input.

The Glendale City Council, however, has had a number of regulars sharing their thoughts ad nauseam and mayors have been tweaking the process much like the L.A. Community College board did so many years ago.

I want to commend Mayor John Drayman for his recent streamlining of the meetings (“Mayor Drayman faces first salvo,” April 17).

By grouping presentations, requiring that only one person accept the commendation on behalf of a group and limit their comments, consolidating council comments after all oral communications, and doing the agendizedbusiness first, the meetings have been remarkably short and productive.

I urge the council members to continue in that spirit by making all their remarks as concise and to the point as possible.

Those who continue to speak at oral communications can help with the process too, by composing their remarks ahead of time to maximize their effectiveness.

Some material presented during oral communications could be sent directly to city staff members responsible for the area rather than being presented in public.

Only if staff members fail to act in a timely manner should it be escalated to the council.

I believe it is important for citizens in a representative democracy to actively participate and let their representatives know how they feel on issues, but they should also respect the time of their fellow citizens.

SHARON WEISMAN is a Glendale resident.