Public Discussion of Public Issues
We did this survey because of the public’s reaction to the water rate increase and surcharge recently approved by the Board of Selectmen. The information about the discussion and the public hearings was available well in advance of the final decision, but people only noticed after the vote. How is that?
In general town officials and the media try to make known what is going one.
- HCAT TV regularly broadcasts Selectmen and Finance Committee meetings (volunteers run the camera).
- Then the meetings are available online from HCAT TV.
- The Holliston Reporter provides information after meetings online.
- The Metrowest News prints articles about the meetings.
- “Heartbeat of Holliston” and “Just Thinking” on HCAT TV cover the news.
- The meeting agendas are online on the town’s website 48 hours before every meeting.
- The meeting minutes are on the town website.
- The Selectmen and School Committees occasionally offer coffee hours to talk with residents. The FinCom has, too.
- Officials make themselves available by phone or email. And they are willing to talk if you bump into them on the sidewalk.
So what else can they do?
Facebook, maybe? Do you think that a place for substantive discussion? Sometimes it’s downright uncivil and mean spirited, which only creates bad feelings. Besides any discussion on FB cannot involve a majority of any board or it will be in violation of the open meeting law. So anything that comes out of it will be just one person’s opinion – not the Board’s.
So what’s your answer?
Take the survey…add your comments. These will be shared on Holliston Reporter and with all Town Elected Boards and officials so they know what the community wants. We will not pass along hostile or uncivil remarks, however, so skip them, please.
Mark I appreciate your service to the town and your passion for citizen participation. What do say to the over 700 people who responded to Mary Greendales survey, the large group of business owners and citizens on the downtown vision committee and the dozens of people who showed up at meetings regarding the center of town. Look at the warrant for tonight's town meeting and see where all that involvement got them. You only have to ignore people a few times before they completely lose interest!
Mark heavner | 2015-05-04 19:07:16
I want to address a couple of points quickly. "Beyond Frustrated"-I wrote about the water surcharge last week for the reasons you stated and intend to bring it up at Town Meeting tonight. Ann Marie-all meetings are publicly posted and sparsely attended (if anyone attends). Members can always be reached by email. Social media is a terrible way "govern" a town. Members of our town government are an amazing bargain they work very hard little (or in most cases NO pay). Yes, they do have regular jobs but still they give up their time to serve the town and also have additional office hours to be available for the public, again little to no response. There is a lot of apathy in this town. People think they shouldn't have to pay for services and that everyone should to fit the schedule of the individual citizens. Sorry it doesn't work like that. Members can always be reached via contact info on the web sites. However attend the meeting if you can or watch them on cable and send them questions. If you think you can do better, run for office we need more people to do that. Most important...ATTEND TOWN MEETING TONIGHT. Too few bother to do any of this and even fewer bother to vote. But they love to complain on social media. Social Media is nice but it is NOT being involved. We need and want involvement and have been trying figure how to do that for years in a way that is fair to everyone. I'm sure people are open to reasonable suggestions.
Mark Schultz | 2015-05-04 13:03:34
For the past 10 years, I have heard about the lack of citizens getting involved in town issues. In fact, I heard about this the first week we moved into town. The School Department, Water Department, FinCom, and Selectment and many other departments all comment/complain about the few people who come to meetings, failure of people to vote etc. If what you are doing isn't working, then you have to try something new. It is pretty clear when you read the social media posts and comments on Holliston Reporter that people do, in fact, care a lot about what happens in town. So, this is a communication issue. It is no longer enough in this day and age to hold a meeting in a Town Hall, expect people to come and weigh in and then move on. You have to reach out to them in multiple ways at multiple times - it's the world in which we live. If people aren't coming to your coffee hours at 9am at the local coffee shop, then hold a pop-up comment session at Central and Washington on a Saturday or, better yet, if you want to find families go to the soccer fields or softball/baseball fields, head to a football game on a Friday night. Go to the senior center. How about after church/Temple one weekend? Do something that engages people and interests them. Yes, I know, being on a town board is not a full time job. Yes, it would be wonderful if this wasn't needed. But instead of always complaining about the lack of involvement from the town, why not try to change up what you're doing to reach people and see if it works.
Anne Marie | 2015-05-04 05:48:48
As the former SC member who started Office Hours, we hold them at Casey's at night because it's one of the few public spaces open at night. It's NOT a meeting, it's merely to connect with the community in an easily accessible space, without a quorum from the SC, and with rotating members attending. Morning/day times ones are held at one of the coffee shops in town, all of which are closed at night. And frankly, it was one way to try and draw some Dads into the discussions. No one's getting plastered at Office Hours, I can assure you. Particularly not SC members :)
Erica Plunkett | 2015-05-04 05:33:44
What was missing from the "information about the discussion and the public hearings available well in advance of the final decision," were details. 48 hours does not seem like well in advance, Yes, Mary Greendale ran a survey, on Facebook, late the pervious week of the Selectmen's decision. Her details included a service fee up to, not more than, $50. The $75 quarterly services fee is 40% higher than my family's quarterly water bills. Some in this town maybe surprised to learn not all Holliston citizens can afford a $300 annual fee on top of the exorbitant amount of taxes paid. This group is not limited to seniors. This problem cannot be blamed on the State, like some of the town's other issues. It is especially frustrating and outrageous considering we are in this situation due to poor management, lack of leadership and incompetence. As for the "downright uncivil and mean spirited" discussions in this town, they are not limited to Facebook. You can experience them at office hours, at Newcomers, even in the hall at Town Hall.
Beyond Frustrated | 2015-05-04 05:25:46
click on the dark blue section of the banner at the top of the page.
paul | 2015-05-04 04:52:30
Where is the survey? I'd love to take it. Also, the school committee doesn't hold coffee hours, they hold happy hours. I don't think it's appropriate to be discussing something as valuable and important as our children's education and making decisions while well are drinking. No one makes good choices when drinking. (That's probably how common core math came to be)
Survey? | 2015-05-04 04:18:48