Who Will Replace Marlon Brownlee on the Maplewood Township Committee?

gerardryan said:

OliveBee said:

Closed sessions should be at the end of the public meeting.  The TC is supposed to pass a resolution to go into closed session and that is supposed to happen in public.

They do pass a resolution in open to go into closed. Every time.

Don't confuse the issue with facts. 

ml1 said:

OliveBee said:

ml1 said:

personally, I doubt that a whole lot of discussion goes on among TC members outside of meetings on important issues.  I doubt they hang out together socially.  

back in the day, we had a pickup softball game that often included a quorum of TC members.  I don't recall any discussion of township issues on the bench however.  (Unless you count discussion of how horrendous the playing surface at DeHart Park was.)

sure a quorum can be at a softball game, a dinner, a party, a supermarket together, the issue only arises if they discuss town business.

jeebus.  that was supposed to be a joke.

I got that!

gerardryan said:

OliveBee said:

Closed sessions should be at the end of the public meeting.  The TC is supposed to pass a resolution to go into closed session and that is supposed to happen in public.

They do pass a resolution in open to go into closed. Every time.

supposed to be in public

That's what he said.

What makes you an expert? Oh...

gerardryan said:

OliveBee said:

Closed sessions should be at the end of the public meeting.  The TC is supposed to pass a resolution to go into closed session and that is supposed to happen in public.

They do pass a resolution in open to go into closed. Every time.

gerardryan said:

OliveBee said:

Closed sessions should be at the end of the public meeting.  The TC is supposed to pass a resolution to go into closed session and that is supposed to happen in public.

They do pass a resolution in open to go into closed. Every time.

yes they do. most often, but it is not in public.  It is in the little conf room.  Other towns make sure it is in the public venue.

It's unclear what this alleged criticism is supposed to mean.  Yes, like every other governing body that follows the rules, the Maplewood Township Committee follows proper procedure to go into closed session.  Then, if any decisions are made, those decisions are announced in public.

The closed sessions don't take place in the public venue.  They take place in the conference room.  That's not unusual, and it certainly isn't something to turn into a criticism.

OliveBee said:

gerardryan said:

OliveBee said:

Closed sessions should be at the end of the public meeting.  The TC is supposed to pass a resolution to go into closed session and that is supposed to happen in public.

They do pass a resolution in open to go into closed. Every time.

yes they do. most often, but it is not in public.  It is in the little conf room.  Other towns make sure it is in the public venue.

OliveBee said:

yes they do. most often, but it is not in public.  It is in the little conf room.  Other towns make sure it is in the public venue.

There is no inherently private meeting room at town hall.  The session in the conference room is open until such time as the committee passes a resolution to enter executive session.  Any member of the public can be present in the conference room unless and until such a resolution is adopted.

Okay, now I think I understand what Ms. Bee was talking about.  As Mr. Carlson notes, the Township committee does meet in the conference room sometimes - for example to go over materials for the meeting in the large meeting room. 

Again, that's what any other municipal body does, and it is following the rules.  A public body can meet around a table, so long as its discussions are open to the public.  Members of the public (including but not limited to the press) can sit and watch if they want.  At some point, if there's a topic that requires a closed session, they'll ask those members of the public to leave the room while that closed session takes place.

That's still a public statement and resolution that a closed session is taking place.  It's certainly not something to turn into a criticism of the Maplewood Township Committee.

tomcarlson said:

OliveBee said:

yes they do. most often, but it is not in public.  It is in the little conf room.  Other towns make sure it is in the public venue.

There is no inherently private meeting room at town hall.  The session in the conference room is open until such time as the committee passes a resolution to enter executive session.  Any member of the public can be present in the conference room unless and until such a resolution is adopted.

There's nothing relevant about where they declare they're going into closed session, unless one wants to see some pomp and circumstance with Vic leading the TC  15 feet to the main hall, declaring they're going into closed session amid the blaring of trumpets, then back again.  

ctrzaska said:

There's nothing relevant about where they declare they're going into closed session, unless one wants to see some pomp and circumstance with Vic leading the TC  15 feet to the main hall, declaring they're going into closed session amid the blaring of trumpets, then back again.  

Now that you mention it, that is EXACTLY what I would want.

I would put in for the position of mace bearer, to proceed before the mayor and other members the Township Committee into the sanctum sanctorum, where all of the secret decisions are plotted.

For some reason I'm picturing Rowan Atkinson carrying that...

nohero said:

ctrzaska said:

There's nothing relevant about where they declare they're going into closed session, unless one wants to see some pomp and circumstance with Vic leading the TC  15 feet to the main hall, declaring they're going into closed session amid the blaring of trumpets, then back again.  

Now that you mention it, that is EXACTLY what I would want.

I would put in for the position of mace bearer, to proceed before the mayor and other members the Township Committee into the sanctum sanctorum, where all of the secret decisions are plotted.

If so, the dude behind him would be toast.

So, unless the schedule has changed, today (Monday March 21) is the day for the Maplewood Democratic Committee to meet the candidates and decide on its endorsement for the June primary.  I'm looking forward to see which candidate emerges (McGehee seems to have strong backers, but maybe some strong detractors due to VK board membership).  Also will be curious to see if anyone decides to run "off the line" and make it a contested primary again this year.  And who will the Republicans run for Township Committee?  Anyone?  Seems like this might be an especially tough year for a GOP candidate in deep blue Maplewood, especially if Trump or Cruz is on top of the ticket. 

Which is sad, really.  Party affiliation means next to nothing from a locally-focused standpoint IMO.  Has any recent campaign been won or lost (or even focused) on the merits of a national party position?

True that.

I doubt any Republican candidate who has good ideas for Maplewood would be interested in deporting all Muslims from our community.

Just like any Democratic candidate who has good ideas for Maplewood probably wouldn't be a self-avowed socialist.

You would hope that "good ideas for Maplewood" would be the operative term, but it seems that folks around here are too discouraged to seriously test the theory, so we get Democratic primaries that are basically the real election.

The only problem with that analogy is that there isn't a Republican candidate for president who wants to deport all Muslims and there isn't a Democrat candidate for president who is a self-avowed socialist. 

http://joestrupp.blogspot.com/2016/03/township-committee-candidate-mcgehee.html?m=1

It's Frank McGehee, by an overwhelming margin.  The fact that he received near unanimous endorsement (26 votes out of 28) would seem to indicate that he gathered the support of all the factions in the local Democratic Party.  Perhaps this means no contested primary this year?  While it would make the election less interesting, many in the town will probably enjoy a year without local political division, especially given how rancorous things promise to be on the national stage.