Editorial

That Was Then

In April 2004, I wrote the Editorial below, "Council Civility Lessons." The editorial was born out of my disappointment in attending Gray Council meetings week after week and seeing the citizens' rising frustration with how the Council was treating them, or at least those who spoke counter to Council's point of view. The Council even had a protracted discussion about instituting civility standards to which the citizens would have to adhere- but not the Council itself. The editorial below reflects how things were then.
"Manners for the civility-challenged."

1. When people come to a meeting and approach the microphone, be attentive. Look at them. Do not shuffle papers, pass notes, or whisper to each other.

2. Accept what they have to say with grace. Do not interrupt. Do not argue. Do not be so obviously ego-invested in your own outcome that you turn off the second they start speaking.

3. Thank them. Accept the comment for the gift that it is. These people have chosen to spend the evening with you, instead of their spouses, children, parents. Just listen and say thank you.

4. Don't talk down to them. Just because you're on a stage and in a physically higher-up position, doesn't mean that you can patronize, condescend, or denigrate their intelligence. Saying things like, "Figures confuse people," or "You are shooting from the hip," or "Your comments are random and gratuitous," is not a sure-fire way to endear yourself to those who elected you.

5. Remember that sometimes the microphones and cameras are not turned off immediately after you say, "Let's adjourn." Don't ever say anything that you wouldn't want broadcast to everyone in town. Assume that every mic is open and that every camera is on- and be on your best behavior.
Start practicing at the next meeting, April 20. It will get easier with time. And if it doesn't, just remember that the citizens "do not suffer fools gladly"- and elections can take care of the problem."

That was then.

Now, it is completely new Council, down to the last member. There have been five meetings since the June 2005 election, three of those regular Council meetings. The July 5 and July 19 meetings were a combined 9 hours long. The issues have been emotional and contentious. Citizen attendance has been heavy. Discussion, sometimes under fire, has been extensive. I have had plenty of opportunity to watch how this Council conducts itself even though the time period has been short.

The Gray Town Council's demeanor during these meetings has been graceful, attentive, respectful, thoughtful, and deliberative. It is obvious they do their homework and come ready with facts. If citizens present new facts, those facts are absorbed, not dismissed. Sidebar conversations are almost nil. Best of all, to me, the Councilors actually look at the person speaking. The whole time. All of the above civility standards have been met.

Whether you agree with the Council's actions, it must be agreed that they are serving the people of the Town of Gray respectfully, which is the biggest reason of all to hope this behavior will form the basis of solid foundation for collaborative discussion on the upcoming municipal range of issues between Council and citizens.