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Highlands Today

It's Official: AP Council To Meet Once A Month

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By LAURA NESBITT

Highlands Today

Published: March 11, 2009

SEBRING - The Avon Park City Council voted after a public hearing Monday night to meet once a month.

Council members and other city officials have been meeting twice each month.

None of the citizens sitting in the chamber spoke up against the change.

Several councilors expressed concern that the change would give citizens less opportunity to talk to council members.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, the change will not violate the Sunshine Law, which addresses "the public's right to attend meetings of public boards and commissions, not how often meetings must be held," said Sandi Copes, communications director.

City Manager Sarah Adelt told council members that the city would save money with the reduction.

"The total approximate cost savings would be $750 and 14 labor hours," Adelt said in a phone interview while reading from an agenda item summary.

According to the summary, those costs include copy paper and staff time setting up for a meeting and breaking down afterward.

The summary states that receiving information packets, which are distributed to each council member "a week in advance," will allow them to make "a better informed decision."

"The more we meet, the more we get to micro-manage," said Deputy Mayor George Hall.

"We need to take a step back and not micro-manage as much. I'm not worried about our approachability. We've not been accused of being accessible to the public."

At the February city council meeting, Hall and Mayor Sharon Schuler voted against the ordinance.

Councilman Al Joe Hinson was the only dissenting vote at last night's public hearing.

"I feel like we're taking something from the citizens," Hinson said regarding his reason for voting against the change.

The city council meeting will be in the council chambers on the fourth Monday at 6 p.m.

Highlands Today reporter Laura Nesbitt can be reached at (863) 386-5857 or lnesbitt@highlandstoday.com.

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