My name is Barbara J. Ruhe, I live at 79 Main Street. I am delivering the following remarks at the request of George A. Ruhe of 956 Cloverdale Circle, who is traveling and forwarded his comments to me via e-mail:
There are several important issues that I understand will be discussed at this evening's Town Council. They are issues of great concern to me, and which I and others have addressed during both the current and former administrations.
Many of you proudly wear little American Flag lapel pins and speak out in "Support of Our Troops" in the costly democratization efforts in Iraq. Yet here in Wethersfield our last council majority and apparently this current majority has pushed and continues to push policies and "Town Council Meeting Rules" that fly in the face of all that is important and precious in a democratic society.
A well informed and un-muzzled citizenry is essential if our system of government is to survive the incessant efforts made to erode our ability to stay informed and to be able to effectively address issues of local import,
Specifically, I'm referring to the plan that would effectively "gut" council meeting minutes of any meaningful information. The proposal, if implemented, would make the minutes useless to interested citizens as well as to future Councils that might want or need to research details of previous council actions. There is also the ongoing and harsh enforcement of your 5 minute limit on public speaking during public comment and the muzzling of the citizenry as a result of eliminating the opportunity to speak at the end of Council meetings.
Since time immemorial Wethersfield's citizens have had this right to address their local elected officials on matters raised during a current meeting at the end of the meeting. To make citizens wait for two weeks or more to share concerns raised at a meeting is inconsistent with a government interested in the opinions of its citizens.
I would urge that you not change the policy as pertains to Council minutes. I would urge you to either eliminate the 5 minute rule or be flexible in its enforcement. I would urge that you reinstate the policy of permitting citizen participation at the end of all Council meetings by restoring the public comment period.
Open government and a well informed and participating citizenry are valuable tools in keeping government at all levels honest and effective.
