Last week, Gossips reported that the first meeting of the newly reconstituted Tourism Board had taken place the previous Friday without notice given to the public. A couple of members of the new Tourism Board protested in comments that it was not a meeting but rather a "meet and greet," indicating that not every member of the board was present.
Today, I discovered that the gathering had been recorded "from a live webstream" by WGXC. Identified as "City of Hudson Tourism Board Meeting 20200221," the recording has been archived and can be heard here. We can all listen and judge for ourselves if it sounds like a meeting or a "meet and greet."
The first announced meeting of the Tourism Board will take place on Friday, March 20, at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK
Sounds like more than a meet and greet to me. Besides, the open meetings law applies when 3 or more members of a public body are together. So we have new members of government whose first official act is lying to the public. Very nice. When did Trumpian politics become the Progressive playbook?
ReplyDeleteCarole and John, and John Kane--who protested about my phrasing last week. I'm sorry that I didn't know the official and correct language. I'm sorry that I wasn't speaking legalistically but casually. And I'm sorry--for you, not me--that it seems so easy and cathartic to assume the worst. The gist of my note last week was that no ill intent was involved in the unadvertised meeting. I also suggested that anger and suspicion might be poorly expended when a new group, with good and open intentions, starts their process. I can see from this post and this reply that the spirit of my comment didn't translate. So I'll reiterate: It's so great that the whole community is excited to be involved in tourism meetings. It's a great sign of civic involvement. Next meeting is on the calendar. I've been signed in, which is exciting, since I'm looking forward to serving. The members of the board I already know are open, curious, and enthusiastic people. I think they might even possess enough equanimity to field arbitrary, undeserved pique, and just smile and say: "Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting!" If it feels good to approach it all acrimoniously, by all means, keep it up. It wouldn't feel good to me. But we're all different, which is part of what makes Hudson such a truly dynamic and wonderful place to live and to be engaged in the civic sphere.
ReplyDeleteTamar-
ReplyDeleteIn the time I have known you, I have come to respect your ingenuity, diligence, and dedication to the community, none of which is an excuse for your flippant response to a very fair and deserved critique of the way the first meeting was handled. Everyone you just listed, myself included, is sympathetic to the learning curve of a new board made of volunteers; that sympathy does not diminish the responsibility of those volunteers to comply with Open Meetings Laws.
I have been a defender of a board more willing to expand their focus past the myopic vision of the last iteration of this body. I have defended its continued funding to fulfill its obligation to the community and the tourism industry who supported the original legislation with the expectation of support from the City. I truly wish this body success, and hope your excitement and enthusiasm expand to include thoughtfully accepting criticism.
Oh, I didn't mean to sound flip. I'm open to criticism! I appreciate your support of the process. I'm glad to have learned about open meetings laws!!! I apologize for our mistakes! Onwards!
ReplyDeleteWhat a load of diatripe from T A. Dose she believe her own BS,and think that we can be charmed and hoodwinked by' OH SO' political correct speech.
ReplyDeleteServing over 2,000 tourist in the last 2 years, I see the trend now is to de-train and then stay out of town, mostly on the west side of the Faithful.
ReplyDeletede-train ? I think you mean alight. What's next de-car!
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