Lakewood Does Things Differently

[Scott Meeson]

Noticed this on the city's website this morning:
http://onelakewood.com/News.aspx?NewsID=353



Scott Meeson

[marklingm]

Scott,

City Hall certainly has mastered cognitive dissonance! See http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12375.

In theory, I also applaud City Council for three readings.

But, in practice, so what?

The real question is:

How many times did the third reading of any resolution change the actual resolution language from the first reading?

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

Huh?

Differently?

Just a different way to pat themselves on the back for doing
something that was expected of them.

Real different!

It is funny that Lakewood creates NEWS!!!! for doing what is expected,
just some of the time.

Scott, you must be easy to buy for.

.

[marklingm]

It is funny that Lakewood creates NEWS!!!! for doing what is expected, just some of the time.

Jim,

At first I thought I was reading a headline from The Onion, America's Finest News Source:

City Hall Announces That It's Doing Its Job

LAKEWOOD, OH – Elected city council members shock the public by announcing that they have actually been doing their jobs and so has the mayor who they will soon be replacing with a city manager.

Dave Stevis, a city charter commission regular, agrees. “A tip of the hat to everyone at City Council for doing what they were elected or appointed to do for their supporters," said Mr. Stevis. "And Mayor Mike Summers has also worked his best, just not as good as a city manager would have done.”

***

Matt

[Scott Meeson]

Huh?

Differently?

Just a different way to pat themselves on the back for doing
something that was expected of them.

Real different!

It is funny that Lakewood creates NEWS!!!! for doing what is expected,
just some of the time.

Scott, you must be easy to buy for.

.

Jim,

In 2013, how many times did you take advantage of the opportunities(attending council meetings) provided to you to voice your concerns or ideas to proposed resolutions? (For me, the answer is zero/none.)

Opinions vary on whether I'm easy to buy for.

Scott Meeson

[Jim O'Bryan]

Huh?

Differently?

Just a different way to pat themselves on the back for doing
something that was expected of them.

Real different!

It is funny that Lakewood creates NEWS!!!! for doing what is expected,
just some of the time.

Scott, you must be easy to buy for.

.

Jim,

In 2013, how many times did you take advantage of the opportunities(attending council meetings) provided to you to voice your concerns or ideas to proposed resolutions? (For me, the answer is zero/none.)

Opinions vary on whether I'm easy to buy for.

Scott Meeson

Scott

I attended about 5 council meetings last year when it interested me or to show support to
someone or something there.

I watched another 5 on TV, and some others for a moment or two.

I sat in for minutes on two Council On A Whole Meetings.

I am not convinced that looking up to a City Council sitting 6' above and 40' away from
the people they they serve, and grabbing someone's allocated 5 minutes at the end of
a meeting is: 1) The best way for me to communicate with Council, or the City, 2) Best
most effective use of my time, when we have someone like Chris Bindle reporting on
Council, or 3) would serve anyone any better.

I could be wrong, and I would like to believe that I am somewhat informed, but I grew up
in a generation where we might have broken the world, but you don't celebrate doing your
job with the same enthusiasm as you would from winning the lottery.

But I suppose in this day and age, our council is gifted, and i am so proud of them
following the rules as they were before they desperately had to change them,
a majority of the time.

Let the party begin, perhaps a parade or ribbon cutting, no, wait, I have it! A Proclamation
from Council to Council about how great Council is. Then maybe we could pay contractors
that were hired without RFPs to retweet, and bang around "smart" phones until everyone
on Council is satisfied with their notoriety for doing what is expected of them.

No, wait Sinagra Park could be Council Park, in remembrance of the year, they almost
followed the rules from before they changed them.

It would indeed be an aspiring story to tell our kids, and maybe it could make one of those
"coolest" lists everyone digs.

Ahhhhhhhhh nothing like basking in the glow of our greatness.



PS - Lunch at "The Best Taco Bell In The World" for gifted Council?

[Scott Meeson]

Brian Powers:http://blog.cleveland.com/letters/2014/01/letter_to_the_editor_850.html#incart_river

Scott Meeson