HELEN — After discussing it at two meetings, the Helen City Commission has changed its meeting schedule going forward.
Rather than meeting at 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month and again at 3 p.m. on the third Tuesday, the commission plans to consolidate to one meeting per month effective in April.
The new city commission meeting will convene at 10 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, with the second meeting being held only if show cause hearings or additional readings of a proposed ordinance are needed, or if something else arises that needs to be acted on quickly.
Mayor Jeff Ash said the consolidation of meetings is something he’s wanted to see for some time.
“After careful consideration by the department heads, you can just have too many meetings that interfere,” Ash said. “With the new meeting, the agendas will be very well prepared. Our department heads will only have to do one report a month. They’re easily accessible. Our financial statements will be prepared and up to date.”
Holding one meeting per month could create lengthy meetings, since each of the current meetings generally runs one to two hours, or even more on occasion, but Ash said he believes the end result will be worth it.
“We’re just going to have a good old-fashioned council meeting and get it all done,” Ash said. “Now, that doesn’t prevent us from meeting on emergency situations or ordinances we feel like that need to be put in place prior to the season. It helps to meet longer once a month than twice a month.”
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/4/650591/helen-city-commission-changes-meeting-days-effective-in-april