Mayor: Communication needs to improve

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Mayor Larry Bowman said during a meeting last week that communication between city staff and the City Council is lacking.

Bowman said he believes more issues should be brought before the council and that “every conversation about city business should go to council.”

A couple members voiced disagreement with the push for that level of discussion, but the focal point was directed towards committee meetings.

Bowman also said “disagreements are as natural as breathing,” but those differences need to be worked through with civil discussion. He said rigorous dialogue typically leads to the best outcomes.

Knowing when people are going to these meetings is important, and that representatives know the commitments that were made, he said.

Deputy Mayor Veronica Messing said she wants to have a renewed focus with committee discussions she participates in, as well.

Timing these discussions is equally as important.

Councilman Sonny Weathers said the appropriate times to address the committee reports are during the council meetings.

Weathers followed up by saying time is typically allocated for committee reports during each session.

Later in the meeting, Councilman Davin Perry suggested allocating more time during council meetings.

Councilwoman Jennifer Morton suggested utilizing a group text to keep up to date with meetings, and Mayor Bowman brought up the idea of creating a shared calendar.

City Manager Albert Tripp said the shared calendar is a realistic possibility and would be accessible for everyone to contribute to.

But some council members were also concerned with the process of members being excused from meetings. As written, council members need to contact the city clerk/treasurer to be excused.

Adding another option such as city manager or the mayor to the list was an idea Councilman Dave Malet supported, but Weathers said the clerk is the official record keeper for the city and that is why the policy is written as it is.

Departmental needs were also a hot topic, and it was agreed that the needs of each department should be addressed more frequently. Council also agreed that progress reports should be presented more often.

The council agreed that quarterly updates should be adequate, but emergency meetings can be put together to address urgent needs.

Reporter Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected].