Citizens For A Better Norwood

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Format for tomorrow's COW meeting

During last night City Council meeting, Councilperson Steve Thornbury asked Committee of the Whole Chairman John Mumper to elaborate on the process by which members of the public will be allowed to speak regarding the presentation Hamilton County Public Health officials will be making at the COW meeting tomorrow evening. Our understanding from Mr. Mumper’s reply is that the format will be as follows:

1. HCPH officials will make their presentation, followed by questions from council members. This part may take up roughly an hour.

2. Members of the public who arrive prior to the 7:30 p.m. start time and fill out a form requesting to speak will have, perhaps, 2-3 minutes to ask questions. These questions will not be answered during this segment, which may also take up about an hour.

3. Approximately the last half hour or so, council members will have the opportunity to direct questions that haven't yet been answered to HCPH officials/other pertinent people present, and these questions may include questions the public asked earlier.

Last month, we published former Norwood Health Commissioner Donna Laake’s comparison of services currently provided by the Norwood Health Department with those Hamilton County Public Health provides on a standard basis. You may find it helpful to review her analysis in advance of the COW meeting.