Council Committee Meetings Lack Adequate Notification

[iwasthere]

if the television and radio stations used valuable time in finding millcrk pk 's stolen girl by using the amber alert. they can use valuable time in announcing government agencies meetings.

[Towntalk]

There's nothing stopping them from doing PSA's [Public Service Announcements] but if they did it for Youngstown, they would have to do it for every governmental agency in their market area.

[iwasthere]

i had called the local radio talk shows and television stations to have meetings annouced to the public without no trouble. one of the three council clerks could call/fax this info to all medias. this must be part of one of ther daily duties, they are paid extremely well for these office positions.

[Towntalk]

Jay, I would agree with you about newspapers and placed in it with the legal notices, but the radio and television news is an entirely different animal. City government contracts with the newspaper to run notices, but there never has been such agreements in the entire history of broadcasting. It would have to be up to the Mayor to include a public meetings announcement along with the other legal notices, and the Council Clerk to provide him with a complete list of council meetings.

[jay]

Youngstown City Council does not do a good job of notifying the residents of council committee meetings.  The city's own website doesn't even list them under "upcoming meetings."

Just think if council actually had adequate committee meeting notices, the caucus room might be packed with citizens and maybe council would actually have to move the committee meeting to the council chambers.

Youngstown City Council should encourage citizen participation and not discourage it.  Council committee meetings must be listed in advance on the city's website, in the newspaper, and through electronic media.