Politics & Government

Council to Discuss Future of City Committees

Need for more two-way communication expressed; inactive committees may be suspended.

During last night's meeting, Takoma Park City Council members expressed concern over the way city committees operate in Takoma Park.

“The City Council has fallen short,” said Councilman Frederick L. Schultz of Ward 6, about communications between the council and committees. Schulz said he felt that the Council creates committees and then hardly hears from them again.

In the next two meetings, the Council is planning to review its relationship with committees and discuss the future of inactive and suspended committees.

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“I think we have committees that need more direction,” said Councilwoman Colleen Clay of Ward 6. Clay specifically pointed to the Free Burma committees and the Committee on the Environment as unnecessary.

“I don’t see how a city committee is a good way to [free Burma]” Clay said.

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Councilman Josh Wright of Ward 1 agreed with Clay that the Committee on the Environment is too open-ended.

Wright said committees should be “specific, realistic and time-bound.” Some committees that lack a mission statement suffer because there is no clear goal.

All Councilmembers acknowledged the need for more two-way communication. Citing the number of experts that participate in committees, the Council felt it was losing out on a wealth of information.

The Council will continue its discussion and possibly formulate resolutions involving committees in upcoming meetings.


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