file photo by Boyd Loving
Respectful behavior should go both ways
DECEMBER 5, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
To the Editor:
On Nov. 24, the mayor held a meeting on civility. It appears that attendance was by invitation only, but because we are a small village, the word got out rather quickly. I wonder what the true purpose of this meeting was.
It seems the first thing that one would do if there was a perceived problem is to hold a public meeting so that all interested parties could attend and that all our council members would be included. Transparency is at the heart of all public discourse. If conduct at sporting events is an issue, then where were all the participants? As long as I have lived, there has always been an occasional out-of-control parent and/or coach, but I don’t see it as a new issue or one particular to Ridgewood.
To another point, I have attended and ran many meetings and hardly ever has civility been a problem. Where I have seen a breakdown of civility is at the council level, when at the dais personal attacks have been directed at other council members. We have guidelines to prevent this, Robert’s Rules of Order and the Open Public Meetings Act, but they were not always followed, and some meetings became very contentious.
Also, as a citizen coming to the microphone, it is an intimidating experience. It is very difficult to express a contrary opinion in such a setting. On rare occasions, a speaker may get personal, but the chairperson can properly silence that with a reminder of meeting protocol. But how do we stop it when it is coming the other way?
Last, while I have never observed a lack of civility at the Board of Education meetings, I believe its policy of not responding in any way to speakers at the microphone is incredibly rude. As one speaker recently said, it is like talking in a vacuum and the silence is deafening.
We elect our council and board members. We believe in a representative government. Public meetings need to be open and inclusive. As tax-paying residents of the village, we need to feel that are voices are being heard. Respectful behavior goes both ways.
Linda McNamara
Ridgewood
Do as I say and not as I do!
It begins and ends with the council where two of them are arrogant as hell and one is a airhead.
as a tax payer , if they don,t like what I’m going to say then i will go to the press, and that will be the end of the bull shit.
Well said, Linda. Among residents who pay attention to such things at all, thousands undoubtedly agree.
as a store owner the mayor and council should have respect in having the barricades from friday’s night tree lighting picked up, I have shoppers saying that they are in the way of walking and driving and parking. and it looks like like a mess. can,t they have some one pick them up. they should not be out all week end. the village put them out , now pick them up.
thank you.
miss sklmer
Well said, linda, and for a change Mayor Aronsohn did not intercept your letter to the editor and stop the Ridgewood News from printing it.
well manager , have the barricades picked up today.
#7 No problem with the tables and chairs on the sidewalk from the restaurants?
Let’s dine at It’s My Sidewalk to Me.
Ha, Ha #9 you can have a table right next to his Stone Planter/ Barricades .
Fortunately, I don’t use a cane, wheelchair, or walker.