It could have been Broadway instead of Culver Boulevard yesterday morning.
Actors need rehearsals.
So do politicians, even if they only convene publicly twice a month.
John Nachbar, the city manager, and Martin Cole, the city clerk, played producer and director.
Even though all of the political actors are notably successful in their professional lives, on this occasion they were learning to swim politically.
Yesterday morning, it was new Mayor Jim Clarke’s turn.
For an hour, he was being instructed on nuances and regulations that undergird Council meetings — quite out of public view.
Mr. Nachbar and Mr. Cole were drilling him on how City Council meetings are to serenely flow.
Mr. Clarke practiced obligatory announcements the mayor utters at the outset on Monday evenings – the type of chatter that looks offhand but has been carefully practiced.
“We went through the agenda to give me a good idea of what we could anticipate in terms pf where there would be a lot of public comment,” Mr. Clarke said.
“We did a full run-through so I was comfortable with knowing the order of things and whether the city clerk or I would announce the votes (on agenda items) and announce who made the motions and the seconds.
“We also tried to anticipate where we thought the most interest would be, procedural things.”
Mr. Clarke, known for the goals he establishes, is introducing a new set. Efficiency always is a Clarke motivation.
“One goal,” he said, “is to make sure things the public is there for were dealt with quickly. That is my goal for every meeting.
“We got through all the things the public was there for by 9:30’ish.”
To the minute, Mr. Clarke knew when the meeting concluded. 11:34.
He won a bet with former Vice Mayor Andy Weissman that the meeting would streak past midnight.
After last evening’s meeting, “I was comfortable,” Mr. Clarke said. It showed.
