Re “Please, Say Silbiger Didn’t Say It”
Here’s the problem with School Board member Karlo Silbiger seemingly acting again on behalf of the School District at last Monday night's City Council meeting.
He had no authority to go to that meeting seeking more usage of the Council Chambers. This is not the first time that he has presumed to speak improperly before the Council.
Let’s be serious. He may think that he is speaking as a “private citizen.” But he is not in this matter.
He needs to agendize a discussion of his proposal and get the consent of the other four members of the School Board before he pulls this shenanigan again.
He even has the audacity to presume that the Council should move a city commission to make room for the School Board. I believe that the Council already has made it clear that the room is not available unless the Board changes its meetings to another night.
Ninety percent of the time, even the “pocket-size” meeting room is too big because very few members of the public attend the meeting until their “special interests” are at stake.
Even when the meetings are crowded, the meat of the agenda is usually heard after the crowd leaves since they often are in attendance for a special presentation.
And of course, the room is largely empty when it comes to the most important part of the agenda. Too many decisions are made when only a handful of people are there.
They don’t want to sit through an entire meeting or care what decisions are being made by the Board.
The public is a failure when it comes to involvement with the Board meetings.
As a regular attendee of School Board meetings for over 20 years, nothing is wrong with the Board Room. It is a smaller, more intimate space.
The members have to look you in the eye when you address them. As a speaker, I need to be able to gauge how remarks are received. This doesn’t happen in Council Chambers.
In the Board Room, everyone in the room is on equal par. There is no dais to look down on the public! Karlo's comment that the Council Chambers create more transparency is purely theatrical.
It sounds good when you can only hear your own voice. This “transparency” is the new buzzword for people who jump on bandwagons after the wagons already have departed.
Again, this type of behavior is typical for Karlo. He takes all of the oxygen out of a room, especially when it suits his agenda. I hope his fellow Board members give him a good scolding Tuesday night.
Ms. Chabola may be contacted at janetchabola@yahoo.com
