The ad hoc advisory group called Advantage Watertown was created nearly a decade ago as part of a process to plan for revitalization of he City's waterfront. It's a once a month meeting of business and community leaders.
For some time, there has been a slow burn over the group over fears the public thinks Advantage Watertown is discussing and deciding on issues the elected officials should. It's the same argurment used against the increasing trend to marginalize elected leaders in favor of the unelected agencies.
On the other hand, its a chance to bring different ideas into the governing process.
What has been nettlesome is that the MSM routinely covers Advantage meetings, so that what happens has the imprimatur of official action. That's not the media's fault, but it has annoyed some Council members. In particular, those "City Eyes -------" headlines that may result from an Advantage meeting.
Council members Smith and Burns want it gone, and that may happen as those serving on the body are not likely to be a part of something they are criticised over.
As Mayor, I participate in the meetings and find it useful to hear differing opinions, as the perspective you get at Council meetings is pretty limited. It is a bit of a debating club atmosphere and I have tried to advise the body over Council sensitivities over turf issues.
Often, I find the range of meetings I am in on leave me with a baseline of knowledge that Council members not at City Hall every day just don't have. Last week I met with Chamber leaders, hockey enthusiasts and today the CG from Fort Drum stops by.
Ultimately, City Council is the decider on major issues, and its been a while since I heard the words "shadow government."
17 comments:
They are undermining the rest of the voters more so than they are undermining the council. If these self appointed voices of more importance deserve consideration then they should call the hotline or start a blog. A monthly private meeting to bend the mayor's ear is uncalled for.
Mayor, you just used "shadow government" less than a week ago when referencing advantage watertown.
Government listening to people.
People with a clue,
Yeah, we wouldn't want that..........
"shadow government" is a phrase used by those unwilling or incapable of participation.
One of the first steps the Council and this group could take is to try to work together and do what we elected them to do(City council anyway). Take one of the old rat box houses the city ends out owning by the river. Have it fixed up nice. Open a river house full of history about the water and the city as they are related over the years. Staff it with the same people who put time into the Advantage group and let people look at what the river means to us. Charge a small price to get in to pay electric and up-keep. Plus it would be a place to hold meetings with the public and set the group up with a way to do the job they love.
"shadow government" is a phrase used by those unwilling or incapable of participation
It is? I think you better RESEARCH the term and figure out what jeff ment- I have to agree totally with Jeff.
This plan has a underlying agenda and overtone. I mentioned this plan a few months ago on the hotline show and said about what they are doing and how they are doing it all for someone to make lots of money with a few hands in the Jar.
WAKE UP !
It's called participatory government. It's been around for, ohhh, a few centuries. Not all the hub-bub that floats around the basement of the county building qualifies as "public comment". These two would do well to get out and hear what other citizens of the community have to offer, first hand, not filtered through their small circle of cronies.
Its about time someone was concerned about them! They had the council approve amendments to the zonin ordinance creating three new zoning districts June 06 2011. February 7, 2012 The planning board approved LWRP zone changes(request submitted by staff) to change the approved zoning classification of 110 parcels in the Public Square area to Downtown District. Hmmm That "area" reaches as far as Pearl and Water, Coffeen, ect....anyway no one showed up to say a word. Feb. 21 there was supposed to be a Public Hearing regarding Ordinance-changing the approved Zoning Classification of Various Govt owned Parcels in Order to implement with Recomendations of the local Waterfront Revitalization Program.Not much said. I cant figure out why more people arent upset about this. First of all why do we almost strategically own some of those 107 parcels anyway? (1 is state owned and 2 are private but completely circled by city property so they decided might just as well i guess).This is a excerp from the minutes of the Planning Board of City of Watertown Meeting June 07 2011 that i found was interesting-"Mr. Mix began informing the Board that on June 06, 2011, the city council had approved amendments to the Zoning Ordinance creating three new Districts. The next step is to implement the LWRP by rezoning pacels along the river. The 1st round of Zone changes involves only Govt owned properties, as these will be least likely to produce any controversey". The 2nd phase are Private Properties. Most changes are from Commercial District but there are some light Duty Industrial as well being changed to new Downtown District.Do you people understand that if you are next to or near one of these city owned properties being changed that you will be forced to change too??? No gas stations, auto repair shops, ground floor Residential units, Modular Home-Trailer Sales Businesses or Hospitals or clinics will be allowed in these areas. I'm assuming New ones but not sure...I mean that would put alot of people out of business if it didn't. Right??? Standard, niceneasy on Factory, Lennox Homes....
3:24 you do know that Roxy ran unopposed??? That was the chance for some participatory government.
Remember when they hired the last city manger and they had a meet and greet at Watertown Savings Bank? That was the shadow government at its finest. But Newzjunky has done a great job at neutering this bunch of blowhards.
It was all a shadow government plot bent on stealing every thing from us.
8:34 you can't blame it all on this unelected board clueless "leaders" because the state was offering free money. How can you turn down free money? Especially when the only thing you have to do is outlaw businesses to get it?
Is it any wonder that there would be a need for or that a shadow government would survive. The city council doesn't seem to get much done.
Not for nothing here mayor but you got your ass handed to you yesterday on the Hotline. The noise lady has a legitimate concern and has brought it to the city for resolution.
If you are not going to enforce zoning laws or ordinances what is the point of passing them? Why are you and the council letting the people who are paid to enforce them pick and choose which ones they feel are worthy.
Your campaign slogan was that you are the mayor who is there. You admitted that even though you said you would, you did not visit the house where the loud music was the issue. Well, I will say this, at least you admitted that for that one you were the mayor who wasn't there. LOL
Did you forget who didn't up-hold the law the city passed? It wasn't the Mayor. It was a Judge in a court room. So if you must me mad, call him.
Who prosecuted the law? Every time an incompetent totalitarian judge expresses an opinion and makes a ruling then you are supposed to take it as gospel? Why do we have a state supreme court when a local judge and mayor can unilaterally and arbitrarily declare a law unconstitutional and it is the end of story?
That's a lawyers job to take it to a higher court. Not the Mayor and not the Judge on the case. The people involved need a lawyer.
The city passed the ordinance and I assume they did so with aid of legal counsel. So it is the city's job to uphold the laws that they passed and got the blessing from the city attorney from. With the logic this dumb judge used, all opinion cases such as manslaughter would be unconstitutional because there is no such thing as "reasonable" in his eyes.
That would be great, but we have the court system for a reason. Not everyone is guilty. Without the court as a buffer, the poilice could arrest anyone for anything and just put them away. Not what I want.
That would be great, but we have the court system for a reason. Not everyone is guilty. Without the court as a buffer, the poilice could arrest anyone for anything and just put them away. Not what I want.
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