THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 24, 1995 TAG: 9502230148
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY KAREN WEINTRAUB, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Concerned that they talk at each other rather than to each other, council members have decided to abandon a long cherished political tradition of playing to the cameras - at least for one day a month.
At their retreat last weekend, council members decided to move one work session a month to a conference room and shut off the cable television feed.
It's not that they haven't been talking - as anyone who watches the six- to eight-hour meetings can attest.
It's just that a lot of what they say is less than civil, they admit, and that their performances are getting in the way of real communication.
They've called each other windbags, hurled accusations of laziness and unethical behavior and screamed about a lack of respect. All that's just since August, when they agreed to be nicer to each other - and veteran members say this group is the most compatible in two decades.
So why the ban on live broadcasts? To get rid of the audience - or the sense that someone might be watching out there - so they can actually take the time to listen to each other.
Council members said they are basically divided into two groups: those who make speeches to the cameras and those who come into council meetings with their minds made up. The combination makes communication difficult: the side that already knows what it wants doesn't listen to the others, who in turn talk louder, and more often, in an attempt to be heard.
``The people who take too much time are not speaking to the other council members, they're speaking to the public,'' council member John A. Baum said.
``Debate doesn't occur between council members because the perception is that the decision has already been made,'' council member Nancy K. Parker said. ``Then you begin to debate to the camera to get your position to be heard.''
The retreat, which was not televised, marked the first time in six months council members opened up and heard each other out, several said.
Members said they wanted that to happen more often, and were willing to risk the political fallout of holding meetings without TV cameras. Those meetings, on the third Tuesday of every month, will be audiotaped, and reporters and members of the public will be allowed to attend.
In other procedural changes, council members agreed to try to limit their questioning of each agenda item to five minutes. For the second time in a year, several members tried to impose a time limit, but when Parker and Robert K. Dean objected, they dropped the idea.
Council members also agreed to delay public hearings and planning items until an hour after council meetings begin, so members of the public who want to speak will not have to wait as long while the council attends to other matters. MEMO: Main article on page 10.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The City Council retreat at the fire training center on Birdneck
Road marked the first time in six months council members opened up
and heard each other out, several said.
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA BEACH CITY COUNCIL by CNB