BY Emerson Drake
3/7/11
At last night's Safety & Communities Committee meeting, Councilman Garrad Marsh with the agreement of fellow committee members Councilman Dave Lopez, and Councilman Dave Geer, decided to instruct Joe Muratore to convey to the BRC (Blue Ribbon Committee) to allow public comment at its meetings and to permit the public to submit questions to guest speakers.
Alternate Stephanie Burnside who was present at the meeting seemed to be nodding in agreement.
It was a decision we heartily agree with.Emailed questions to the City Attorney Susan Acala Wood had questioned if the Brown Act covered BRC meetings, to which her emailed response boiled down was no, it doesn't.
Her complete response is a previous article. http://voiceofmodesto.org/wordpress/?p=1519But the Safety and Communities Committee decided it was in the public's best interest to go past legal requirements and permit the exchange of ideas to take place.
We thank the Committee for its decision and everyone who helped to encourage them to allow the public participation with the BRC.
