I recently looked up the term “Legislative Body”. Included in the descriptions were: Legislative Bodies draft laws (write them) and deliberate on the contents of (discuss) those laws. Not what some officials in Chickasha were implying in a recent city council meeting. They said the council was a Legislative Body and its proper role was to only vote yes/no on what the city staff there recommends. I was in disbelief when I heard it and if I were allowed to speak during those meetings I would have said “SAY WHAT”.
Some of them referred to state training classes that (whoever taught that class) did not comprehend the meaning of Legislative Body and also suggested that meetings should only last one hour. My opinion is that the person(s) teaching those classes might need to look at a dictionary or the Constitution for a while. Then maybe these people might learn that citizens might prefer that the city council members representing them are not dismissed in meetings by some saying “Legislative Body” when they don’t even comprehend that role. Citizens also have the right to seek information via Open Records Requests, that some of those “instructors” don’t seem to understand either. Processes must be open and transparent.
In Chickasha, they have had 5/4 decisions on some major topics that should have been discussed at length in work sessions before they were brought to a vote. Reasonable requests by council members were disregarded on parts of the topics being discussed and when they requested more time by postponing the vote. They were voted down by some that are starting to resemble the Alexandria Cortez “Squad” in Washington – marching in lock-step to follow the tune of some Pied Piper no matter what the issue is. It is possible for them to change, and we will have to wait and see if a thoughtful process returns or not.
I tend to trust the judgment of those that recognize when they don’t have to act in a hurry and have time to go through the details of any decision before it is inflicted on their city. They have learned by experience (in very responsible jobs) and their opinions far outweigh the meaningless words spoken by “followers-not leaders” that make you scratch your head and mutter “SAY WHAT”.