New year, new council roles | Sumner Mayor Update

On Monday, the Council took care of a number of seemingly housekeeping items that are quite important for the years ahead.

The following is written by Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow:

On Monday, the Council took care of a number of seemingly housekeeping items that are quite important for the years ahead.

First, the meeting began with swearing in new Councilmember Patrick Reed as well as returning Councilmembers Brown, Hochstatter and LeMaster.

Then, they selected a deputy mayor for the year–congratulations Deputy Mayor Earle Stuard!

Last but not least, they selected committees with Councilmembers Allsop, Hochstatter and LeMaster serving on Community Development Committee; with Councilmembers Brown, Allsop and LeMaster serving on Public Safety Committee; with Councilmembers Stuard, Reed and Hayden serving on Finance Committee; and Councilmembers Hayden, Stuard and Hochstatter serving on Public Works Committee.

Why does this matter to you? Often, people who are interested in a topic come to the council meeting that includes a vote on that topic. That form of involvement is great, but they are really showing up quite late in the game. While they may speak very passionately minutes before the vote is to be taken, getting involved earlier in the process is much more effective.

When a topic arises, it first goes to either a council committee or the full council in a study session for extensive review and study of the issue. The committee meetings and study session are open for you to attend.

While there isn’t always opportunity for public comment at these meetings, it is a chance to learn what is happening and contact your Councilmembers with your thoughts. You can email them, call them, or set up an appointment to speak in person. This process is much more effective as you’re sharing your thoughts while they’re deliberating what to do. We’ll start including dates and times for those in this e-newsletter as well as agenda items.

So while it may seem like “housekeeping” to select committees, etc., this is really setting the structure available to you to join the council in exploring topics and sharing your thoughts throughout 2016.