March City Council Message
By: Council Member Mark Combs, Contact this Council Member
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Why so many unanimous votes by City Council?
Last year, I read a few editorials and heard citizen comments critical of the fact that so many of the votes taken by council are unanimous. There are, of course, numerous non-controversial topics at the local level, such as infrastructure maintenance of roads and scheduled replacement of police vehicles. But beyond decisions of this type, I considered those aspects of local government that would distinguish Montgomery from other municipalities. As a current member of council with the most ‘no’ votes, I offer three perspectives on the workings of council that may help explain the high percentage of unanimous votes.
Bottom Up Governance
You may recall participating in a community survey in 2005. Unlike many of the contemporary political ‘surveys’ calculated to achieve a predetermined result or to advance a particular agenda, our community survey relied on well-crafted questions designed to gauge community sentiment on specific topics that affect the quality of our daily lives. It was not an academic exercise whose results would be fodder for our newsletter and then filed away. The results served as the foundation for developing the 2006 Strategic Plan. Given the large number of talented and well-educated people living in our community, the responses to the survey carried great weight. Knowing that more than 45% of Montgomery households took the time to respond to the survey affirmed its significance as a planning document.
In addition to citizen input, council also considered the comments and suggestions of city staff, who are our frontline service providers. The finished product delineated goals and objectives for council and city staff derived primarily from the hundreds who responded to the survey. Council’s role became that of implementing the expressed goals and desires of city residents rather than being elected officials who would define goals for city residents. It is a classic ‘bottom up’ versus ‘top down’ approach to managing our city.
Prioritize, Prepare, Perform
The strategic plan provides a focal point for current programs and projects and also serves as a guidepost for future planning. Since time and resources are finite, council must first address the core business of the city and then seek innovative projects that are sustainable and enhance life in Montgomery. To accomplish this, a considerable amount of time is expended in preparation for committee meetings, work sessions, and formal business sessions. The committee meetings in particular are designed to vet out problems or differences. Rather than dwell on matters lacking strong support, the objective is generally to focus on identified and attainable goals. Those ideas that have merit but lack support are tabled for consideration after more research. By the time an issue comes before council for a vote, it has been thoroughly examined and discussed. I can understand how it may appear at times to be perfunctory, but it only looks "easy" because of the many hours spent on preparation.
Unstated Expectation
With the strategic plan as a roadmap, the paramount question in the mind of each council member is: "What’s in Montgomery’s best interest?" But there is also an unstated expectation of city residents that council members will use their collective judgment in attending to the city’s business in a professional manner. When I, or others, have voted ‘no’ on an issue, the debate has been at times spirited but civilized. We express ourselves openly and then after respectfully disagreeing on an issue, we move on to the next order of business. That may strike some people as too polite, but it is far better than having a city council polarized by acrimonious public displays or derisive remarks. In that sense, I feel privileged to be part of a city council where 'egos are checked at the door' and each member simply wants what’s best for our city.
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