May 6, 2002

Editorial - The Daily News

Forum an opinion opening

Newburyport citizens who would like to be part of the action should attend Thursday night's city budget forum at City Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.

It will not be a town meeting in the classic sense because whatever evolves will not be in the nature of law. But it will be an opportunity for residents to express their attitudes and ideas to city councilors before consideration of the mayor's budget begins.

Newburyport gave up town meeting in 1851, 87 years after having separated from Newbury, but the desirability of participation in the spirit of town meetings is both obvious and supportable.

This will have some of the semblances of town meeting in that it will enable those with ideas pertinent either to individual wards, or the city as a whole to present them.

There won't be any binding conclusions, but why not listen to the concerns of private citizens?

Why not provide a special occasion to bring both them and elected officials together?

After all, freedom of participation and governmental response are what America is supposed to be about.

The format appears to be supportable both from the point of view of time management and productivity.

Those from the individual wards will be able to meet with their ward councilors, while councilors-at-large will be "sitting in" on ward discussions.

It is important that citizens understand the differences in positions held by city councilors.

Ward councilors are expected to be those officials most conversant with, and responsive to, the affairs of the citizens in their wards.

Councilors-at-large share a totality of considerations with the mayor, even as they may be committed to issues affecting the lives of citizens of a particular ward.

We do not go far astray when we consider the responsibilities of councilors-at-large as being one with those of a mayor, even though their rights are no more than those of ward councilors. But their powers are neither greater, or lesser, than those of ward councilors.

Newburyport's City Council has legislative responsibilities over a broad variety of issues. But it functions as one of the two arms of governance. Shaping its values is the role of the public at large.

Prior to the concept of the event to take place Thursday evening, that role has been subject to individual activists who have been able to make their cases to individual councilors.

While there may be nothing binding evolving from Thursday night's public gathering, it can be of momentous value in defining both problems and objectives.

If nothing else, it will heighten interest, and stimulate both ideas and participation.

Our hope is for broad representation in order that more than just the presence of activists for one cause or another will be heard at the meeting, because it is enlightenment that will show us the way.