08/30/2007: "Is This The Current Agenda?"

The County Council -and the Council Chairman in particular- have been criticized for not posting an updated agenda, and then while a meeting is taking place, changing the scheduled items that appear on the agenda.

The first to complain was Councilman Kevin Ranker, who mildly chastised Chairman Myhr for starting a Monday morning staff meeting prior to the published agenda time. As a result, members of the public -and Ranker- had to change plans and cancel scheduled meetings in order to attend the beginning of the Council meeting.

The criticism became angry, and came from all sides, when at a regular meeting of the Council a 10:30 discussion of “Council Budget Priorities for 2009” was changed by Myhr, and held prior to the scheduled time. The Council went along with the shuffling of the agenda, and did not seem to attribute significance to the fact that SJC Auditor Milene Henley and Deputy Prosecutor Karen Vedder had come into the Council room prior to the scheduled 10:30 discussion item, and sat down.

As 10:30 came and went without comment about budget priorities, Vedder finally raised her hand and asked “Are you going to discuss the budget priorities?” Myhr informed her they had already had the discussion; and then added with a smile “you missed it.” Vedder said “I have been sitting here since 10 o’clock,” and Henley interjected “I also”.

When Myhr explained he had simply moved the item to an earlier time, Vedder, clearly annoyed, said “it is not fair to those who are concerned about agenda items.” Myhr responded that “we were not seeking input from other departments”, explaining that the discussion was about council budget priorities only, and then added “I have reread our rules, and it clearly states we can change the agenda; this was for our benefit”.

The explanation and justification was not well received by Vedder and Henley. Henley heatedly responded to Myhr’s comments by stating “we are part of your budget team and you owe us a courtesy call.” Henley explained that she wanted to hear what the council members discussion on budget matters; and in response to Myhr’s justifications said “it is inappropriate to change the agenda.”

The give-and-take continued with others joining in the criticism, and expressing their concern that the public should be able to rely on the agenda to give accurate information. Myhr interrupted to once again state “this was a general discussion by the Council,” and then added “perhaps I was in error.”