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Date: 1/16/2019
EAST LONGMEADOW – The topic of communication and communicating effectively was discussed at the East Longmeadow Town Council’s Jan. 8 meeting, following an email of concern regarding continuity of public hearing postings in local newspapers.
“I think we need to bring back the communications committee and make it more expansive to include communications committee, not just social media,” Town Council member Donald Anderson stated. “I echo his concerns because I can see a lot of our meetings, like the Planning Board and some of our meetings, today is the exception obviously, are not as well attended, obviously because of the postings on public hearings. It was a very sound letter in the point that the Springfield newspaper does not get the saturation in the town of East Longmeadow as does The Reminder.”
Anderson continued to explain that some of the town’s meeting postings are listed in the Springfield Republican as opposed to The Reminder, which can lead to confusion for residents, especially if they do not subscribe to The Republican.
“The end results are the facts speak for themselves. The whole purpose is to get people to show up to the meetings,” he stated.
Charter Commission member Ralph Page stated that the Town Council advertises their meetings in The Reminder and the Planning Department advertises theirs in The Republican.
“It’s very difficult to have to look both in The Reminder and in The Republican to find out when meetings are,” Page said.
Town Council member Joseph Ford bounced off of Anderson’s comments, explaining that he feels this is a critical time of year with information coming in to the Council.
“Really have a focus on improving communication throughout the Council and the Town Manager,” Ford stated. He then described that during meetings,; often Council members will list off items of information that they would like other town employees to bring back to the next meeting for Council review. He explained that this could become confusing.
“I think the last agenda item before we adjourn should be a quick summary of everything that we’ve requested, because we’re holding the Town Manager and Sara [Menard] and other people accountable to get us information for next meetings and stuff and it seems somewhat disjointed, because we’re asking for a lot of stuff. But then I’m walking away, I remember the stuff I ask for, but not necessarily what others have,” he said. “Maybe to add that as a last agenda item, a quick summary, keep a running list so you know, here’s the things that we’re expecting and when we’re expecting them.”
Anderson then suggested that this not be the last item on an agenda because if they move into executive session, that would clear out attendee’s as well as ELCAT. Ford agreed.
Town Manager Denise Menard expressed that she thought this was a “great suggestion.”
“If things aren’t voted on, it’s difficult for us to know if it’s off handed. That’s a great way of solving that,” she said.
Menard then explained that some Committee and Board postings are not listed in The Reminder due to timing issues of when postings need to be sent to The Reminder versus The Republican. She stated this topic has been talked about at length and that the Town is trying to do the best that they can.
Later in the meeting a letter to Menard was brought up, in which a resident questioned why the Department of Public Works (DPW) meetings were not filmed by ELCAT. In addition, she inquired why there were not any resent agendas posted for the Public Works meetings on the Town’s website.
Menard responded both in writing and at the meeting to the resident, explaining that the Public Works board meets at least quarterly, and more frequently if needed. She added all agendas and minutes are posted, and that information about the department is listed on the website under the “Boards and Commissions” tab as well as financial information in the “transparency” tab. In closing, Menard explained that she believes ELCAT tapings were “just an oversight” in addition to there being new board members with different schedules, meeting at different times. Menard stated she reached out to ELCAT with this concern.
“We did have some transition, and I think that’s all it was, it was not something done on purpose for any reason,” Menard explained, speaking to why recent Public Works meetings have not been taped by ELCAT.