Effective Local Government
Danger Will Robinson! Public comment ahead!
This post offers our readers a brilliant paper by municipal attorney Brett Vinson on the dangers of public comment.
Read MoreRoundtable Community Workshops
Guest post by Bob Jean, ICMA/WMCA Senior Advisor Got a really hot issue and a divided community? Too often, if you hold a traditional public hearing to deal with it, you run the risk that each side will simply line up and use their three minutes to tell the Council how terrible they are no…
Read MoreLocal government discussion guidelines
Please help us develop these sample guidelines for discussion in local governments.
Read MoreGrab this brilliant free “quick-guide” poster today!
The City of Olympia has given us permission to share this quick-guide poster, which you may adapt for your own meetings.
Read MoreGetting your board to buy in to Robert’s Rules
A reader writes, “The city council has never used much parliamentary procedure in our meetings. People speak when they want and sidebar discussions are common.
Read MoreThey threw him out of Parliament. You can sanction too.
High drama in the House of Commons as Member of Parliament expelled for the day.
Read MorePut away your cell phone on the dais
Jurassic Parliament strongly recommends that local governments establish a policy requiring elected officials to put away their cell phones while on the dais.
Read MoreDon’t get chummy
City councilmembers and nonprofit board leaders should not get chummy—too familiar—with their constituents or regular members. Here’s why.
Read MoreSuccessful staff interaction in local government meetings
Staff interaction in local government meetings can be effective or disastrous.
Read MoreChoosing citizens by lottery: recipe for disaster?
The Washington Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials chooses half its 20 members by lottery.
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