Friday
Jan302009
« Garbage panel holds second meeting »
Friday, January 30, 2009 at 8:50PM
Commission Mike Beaudreau's citizen advisory panel for garbage held its second meeting Thursday night at GJAC in Lawrenceville. The comments heard from the public and the topics discussed by the committee seem to be the same ones we have been hearing in recent months. What surprised me most was the fact that the discussions of the committee were slated at one point to be done in private!
At least someone in an official capacity in this garbage debate has some perspective. I cannot imagine the uproar if this committee had closed its discussions to the public. I think the format chosen balances openness, access and the need to for discussion among committee members.
I must take exception with one matter the panel apparently settled.
What a weak reason for not letting the citizens vote on this mess. Perhaps the majority of voters would still find fault with any proposal. However, I believe that, if you put the current ordinance up against a watered-down version with the most egregious aspects removed (e.g., no hauler choice, mandatory recycling, exorbitant fines), the law as passed by the commission would crash and burn in a landslide.
I urge the Gwinnett County Commission to have the courage to step up and pose such a question to voters. Leadership does not mean that you are always popular. You won't satisfy everyone, but I would think you would go a long way to cooling many of the hot tempers in our county.
The next meeting will be Thursday, February 5 in Snellville at a time and place to be determined. Just a thought, is it too much to ask that the times and locations be made a week in advance? Also, I read something previously that indicated these meetings would be announced on the county website. I just looked and cannot find information on either the meeting schedule or the members of the panel. If someone has a link to point folks in the right direction, please leave a comment below.
“This was, in the beginning intended to be a closed-off debate,” said committee chairman Mike Royal, “but I don’t want to go down that road. I don’t want the perception of it.”
Several committee members agreed, and a measure was adopted to provide for 45 minutes of public comments, then deliberations in full view of the public.
At least someone in an official capacity in this garbage debate has some perspective. I cannot imagine the uproar if this committee had closed its discussions to the public. I think the format chosen balances openness, access and the need to for discussion among committee members.
I must take exception with one matter the panel apparently settled.
One issue the panel appeared to resolve was that putting the issue to a county-wide vote would be impractical. There was little hope, the committee concluded, of developing an ordinance that a majority of voters wouldn’t find something wrong with.
What a weak reason for not letting the citizens vote on this mess. Perhaps the majority of voters would still find fault with any proposal. However, I believe that, if you put the current ordinance up against a watered-down version with the most egregious aspects removed (e.g., no hauler choice, mandatory recycling, exorbitant fines), the law as passed by the commission would crash and burn in a landslide.
I urge the Gwinnett County Commission to have the courage to step up and pose such a question to voters. Leadership does not mean that you are always popular. You won't satisfy everyone, but I would think you would go a long way to cooling many of the hot tempers in our county.
The next meeting will be Thursday, February 5 in Snellville at a time and place to be determined. Just a thought, is it too much to ask that the times and locations be made a week in advance? Also, I read something previously that indicated these meetings would be announced on the county website. I just looked and cannot find information on either the meeting schedule or the members of the panel. If someone has a link to point folks in the right direction, please leave a comment below.
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