7th Ward Town Hall Meeting

[Towntalk]

 7WCC TOWN HALL MEETING SET FOR THURSDAY:
AUDIENCE TO BE POLLED ON OFFICIALS' ANSWERS

The 7th Ward Citizens Coalition will conduct a Town Hall Meeting this coming Thursday (November 19th), but it will have a special twist. Government officials in attendance will have their answers to questions judged by the audience. The meeting is set to start at 6:30 p.m. at Faith Community Covenant Church, 1919... E. Midlothian Boulevard.

Similar to a meeting conducted by the 7WCC at OCCHA in 2010, the audience will be asked to give their opinion on each official's answer through wireless instant-polling devices supplied by local high tech firm Turning Technologies. Five options will range from "strongly agree/like" to "strongly disagree/dislike." There are plans to more colorfully describe the audience responses at Thursday's meeting such as using "Best.Answer.Ever.", for example, to describe the most positive opinion on an answer.

In 2010, then-Youngstown mayor Jay Williams described the use of the instant-polling technology as "nerve-wracking" but also said the meeting was one of the "most productive" town hall events he had ever attended. Mr. Williams said the immediate feedback provided excellent perspective that he was able to take back to the office the following day.

Five years ago, the meeting included the mayor and at least a dozen other department heads. Thursday's meeting has been streamlined to include a maximum of just five public officials and will last for only one hour. Confirmed from the City of Youngstown are Mayor John McNally, Police Chief Robin Lees, and City Economic Development & Planning Director T. Sharon Woodberry. Superintendent of Code Enforcement and Blight Remediation Abigale Beniston and State Sen. Joe Schiavoni have also been invited.

It is expected that Mayor McNally will handle a wide range of topics. Police Chief Lees will likely be asked to assess the recently launched Community Police program and its impact on the Quality of Life Ordinance (QOL) passed last spring by city council. Ms. Woodberry will likely field questions related to zoning, the still-vacant Bottom Dollar grocery stores, and the City's planning assistance gained through its relationship to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

If able to attend, Ms. Beniston will probably be asked about progress on inspections, City demolitions, and code enforcement through the new QOL law; Sen. Schiavoni will likely be asked his views on charter school accountability and the Youngstown Plan instituted by the state legislature to improve Youngstown city schools.

Questions will be submitted in writing from the audience and posed by the program's moderator, 7WCC president Chris Travers. When appropriate, Mr. Travers will ask a follow-up question. Officials will also be permitted to briefly add comments or clarifications to another official's answer, but in every case the audience will be polled on the response.

If the 2010 meeting was any indication, Thursday's Town Hall should be a highly enlightening, informative, and engaging hour.

The 7th Ward Citizens Coalition is a 501(c)3 nonprofit neighborhood corporation composed entirely of volunteers who give their time, talent, and energy to endeavors that foster and promote continual improvement in the quality of life in Youngstown's 7th Ward and the city as a whole. The 7WCC is in its 21st year of community service.East Midlothian Blvd.

  FULL DETAILS AT LINK BELOW 
https://www.facebook.com/sue.hagertygiovannini/photos#!/groups/105217326248091/634498939986591/?notif_t=group_activity