By Dee Longfellow
At the beginning of every City Council meeting, just before public forum, the mayor asks City Clerk Jackie Tamer if there are any written letters from the public.
After Mayor Scott Levin’s request at the July 1 meeting, Tamer took a few minutes to explain what exactly “written communications” refers to and how it is handled through the Clerk’s office. She said she was concerned that some people may have been confused about how it works.
“I just want to make sure that everybody who wants their voices to be heard gets to be heard,” Tamer said. “ ‘Written communications’ is an agenda item that allows the public to submit a letter to the City Council, usually regarding a certain agenda item for a specific council meeting. It’s a way for people to let their aldermen know how they feel about a certain issue. It is also a way to express an opinion without appearing in-person at public forum.”
Most of all, Tamer said, she needs to know to which specific council meeting your letter pertains, and whether or not the submitted letter should be posted on the City’s web site.
She said in the past, there were a few occasions when something was posted that a resident didn’t want posted; likewise, someone wanted their comments posted and they were not.
“I never want anything like that to happen,” she said, “but most of all, I want to be sure that everyone is heard.”
Citizens are welcome and encouraged to write letters of communication to the City Council on any agenda item. Letters can be submitted to the City Clerk’s office in person or through the City’s web site. Just be sure to put on your communication what meeting it pertains to and if it’s supposed to be posted on the web site—or not.
Letters must be received by the City Clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting to be included. Levin pointed out that, while 5 p.m. is the deadline, it is best to submit communications earlier.
“If it’s submitted at 5 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30, we’re often doing other things and may not always have time to read it thoroughly before the meeting,” he said. “Submitting written communications is better sooner than later.”
