RES PUBLICA - Gloversville, NY Edition

Okay, I'm actually stunned. I have been for the few days now that I've known about this action by Gloversville's Common Council.

Who would think this is a good idea?

Look, anyone who knows of my time on the council knows that I was a lightning rod. You either loved me or hated me. There are few if any who found it possible to avoid an opinion.

As a result, I frequently found myself the target of commenters jabs.

When the Margiotta issue came about, people came up each and every month to comment on their perception of the situation. At other times, well meaning but less than informed folks thought to come before the council and impart their thoughts on a diverse array of topics.

Despite dealing with savage attacks on my character, or listening to speakers whose ideas were unworkable in their presented form for one reason or another, I never once thought to ban the public speaking portion of the meeting. In fact, on more than one occasion, I voted to extend it indefinitely so that people would have the opportunity to be heard on issues they were passionate about.

So, what I'm saying is that in times of controversy and distress, the real answer should be to allow as many people to be heard as possible, not to throw away one of the few outlets available.

Besides, with the increasing public awareness of the BID board, and the ability to write Letters to the Editor to two area newspapers, closing the door on the public forum at council meetings is like putting a bandaid over a bleeding artery. It ain't holding anything back for long!

To the council members who voted in favor of this measure, please, rethink your position. I know it can be hard, especially when you feel your back is against the wall and everyone is coming at you. Your primary concern was to end the shenanigans. I can appreciate that. Unfortunately, I doubt any rules put in place will accomplish that goal unless the Mayor, or the person acting in his place, chooses to enforce them.

Under the current Rules of the Common Council, any one of you, regardless of how you voted on the change can "Reconsider the Motion" at the next full council meeting. That brings the subject up for further debate and a new vote. Hopefully, you'll see fit to vote it down.

I'd also like to add that regardless of ones feelings for the speaker, something can generally be learned from everyone who approaches the podium. I made a habit of recording the subject matter and key points of everyone who spoke, and then spent time during the week following considering their comments and what if anything I could take from them to improve things.

I ask you to recognize that your current course of action can only hope to lead to alienating the very voters you agreed to serve, and places you in a position of not hearing a voice that might impart important information in these tough financial times. The baby with the bathwater approach is rarely the appropriate response to anything.