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<P>I have to say that I love that last line Mr. Hiles so eloquently stated in his email:</P>
<P><EM> "I'd like this to start happening imperfectly soon, rather than wait for some excellent implementation a year from now. Sometimes imperfection is an impetus to virtue."</EM></P>
<P>I think many things get "postponed" in our town until some magical perfect solution is found. Having town meeting notes on the the web would be a great way to keep us "tech friendly" citizens that do not frequent town meetings abreast of what is going on.</P>
<P>To add my two cents: I would also apply the above quote to the need to have The Town Crier translated in its entirety into Spanish on a consistent manner. </P>
<P>Madeline La Salle</P>
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<DIV></DIV>From: <I>TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</I><BR>Reply-To: <I>TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</I><BR>To: <I>TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</I><BR>Subject: <I>TownTalk Digest, Vol 6, Issue 7</I><BR>Date: <I>Tue, 17 Jan 2006 12:00:02 -0500</I><BR>>Send TownTalk mailing list submissions to<BR>> TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>><BR>>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit<BR>> http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk_riverdale-park.org<BR>><BR>>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to<BR>> TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org<BR>><BR>>You can reach the person managing the list at<BR>> TownTalk-owner@riverdale-park.org<BR>><BR>>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<BR>>than "Re: Contents of TownTalk
digest..."<BR>><BR>><BR>>Today's Topics:<BR>><BR>> 1. Talking to the Town: Two Proposals (David Hiles)<BR>><BR>><BR>>----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>><BR>>Message: 1<BR>>Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 20:48:46 -0500<BR>>From: David Hiles <hilesd@mindspring.com><BR>>Subject: [RP TownTalk] Talking to the Town: Two Proposals<BR>>To: TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>>Message-ID: <A2FE0821-C13E-4927-B56E-F8A3F8101566@mindspring.com><BR>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed<BR>><BR>>Best wishes for the new year.<BR>><BR>>Two proposals for more open gov't and a more easily informed<BR>>citizenry in our fair municipality:<BR>><BR>>1) Back in November, the Mayor made a few comments on TownTalk. That<BR>>was
cool! Maybe I'm a freak, but I'd like to see MORE Talk from our<BR>>elected Town leaders on TownTalk. Communicate with the lurking<BR>>public, etc.<BR>><BR>>These elected guys and gals already "Talk" to the "Town" multitudes<BR>>at the council meetings, so maybe we have sufficient<BR>>"TownTalk" (TalkTown?) going on through that venue. But, maybe not.<BR>>I miss out on that great part of "TownTalk" because I'm not at those<BR>>meetings and I don't have cable. Since I'm not there, they aren't<BR>>Talking to me. Or if they are, I can't hear them. Anyway, I would<BR>>like to be able to keep abreast of town matters in an efficient,<BR>>modern manner. It would be great if people like me could keep up<BR>>without _having_ to go to the meetings.<BR>><BR>>2) How about
this? Start posting the council meeting draft (and<BR>>final) minutes on TownTalk. If that proves too intrusive, set up<BR>>another mail list (like that Ward 1 Electioneering list!) and post<BR>>the minutes there. The minutes are already being typed into Word, so<BR>>it should be straightforward and not too much more work. That way,<BR>>the Town would be Talking to the over 90 members of this list, not<BR>>just the many people at the meetings. It would be another way to do<BR>>something about being an open, accessible government. Of course,<BR>>some times some list members would Talk Back to the Town, but that<BR>>should be OK too.<BR>><BR>>I'd like to see draft minutes soon after the meeting, like within two<BR>>business days. If they were identified as draft, then
great. Busy-<BR>>but-interested people could keep somewhat misinformed on a timely<BR>>basis. Waiting until the minutes were approved would add way too<BR>>much delay (and little meaningful correction) to the process.<BR>>Approved minutes should of course also be posted as they become<BR>>available.<BR>><BR>>I'd like this to start happening imperfectly soon, rather than wait<BR>>for some excellent implementation a year from now. Sometimes<BR>>imperfection is an impetus to virtue.<BR>><BR>>WE are who we have been waiting for.<BR>>http://riverdalepark.blogspot.com/<BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>><BR>>------------------------------<BR>><BR>>_______________________________________________<BR>>TownTalk mailing
list<BR>>TownTalk@riverdale-park.org<BR>>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk_riverdale-park.org<BR>><BR>><BR>>End of TownTalk Digest, Vol 6, Issue 7<BR>>**************************************<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></div></html>