ARCHIVES OF LEAD STORIES
January 27, 2005
Arroyo calls for more democracy on council
Jeremy Schwab
It is a common occurrence — members of the public dutifully
file into the tiers of seats facing the city councilors in their
City Hall meeting room, many intent on testifying on an issue
of importance to their lives. The councilors drift in and out
of the chamber over the course of the hearing, allowed to speak
their piece whenever it is most convenient for them.
City administrators, called to testify on behalf of the school
department or the Boston Housing Authority, for instance, are
often allowed to speak first. Oftentimes, they leave for other
appointments immediately after testifying.
Meanwhile, the members of the public often sit and wait for hours
before they are allowed to speak.
But at-large City Councilor Felix Arroyo aims to change this dynamic.
He proposed a rule change directing committee chairpeople orchestrating
hearings to “provide the opportunity for public testimony
prior to testimony from administration or other officials, as
the subject warrants.”
The rule change, one of five rule changes put forward by Arroyo
this week, comes after incidents where members of the public had
to leave before they could testify on two recent issues —
the Community Stabilization Act, which would have imposed limits
on rent increases, and the question of whether to build a high
school in Mattapan.
“I do believe that when the public comes to the council
they are concerned about issues and taking their own time to be
here,” said Arroyo. “And many times they have to go
back to work or other responsibilities, while people who work
for the city could afford to wait in order to be fair to the general
public.”
In addition to increasing public participation, Arroyo’s
proposed rule changes would reduce the power of the council president.
One change would limit to two the number of consecutive terms
a president can serve. The change would be grandfathered in, so
that Council President Michael Flaherty could serve out his current
third consecutive term. The same proposal was defeated last year.
“The presidency position is a facilitator, and by doing
this we will make it possible for all members of the council to
go through the facilitator process as well,” said Arroyo.
“A diversity of leadership would appoint other leaders in
different [committee] positions.”
Flaherty is widely perceived as a potential contender for mayor
in the future, and the council presidency has historically been
a stepping stone to the mayor’s office. Current Mayor Thomas
Menino ascended to his position automatically because he was council
president when the previous mayor stepped down mid-term.
“There are term limits already,” said Flaherty. “It
is a year and then you have to run again.”
Another of Arroyo’s proposals would take away the power
of the president to silence debate on issues he deems outside
of council business. Arroyo has proposed the same change in the
past only to see it voted down.
Controversy has occasionally flared up when Arroyo or fellow progressive
Chuck Turner or others propose resolutions on the Iraq war or
other topics deemed outside of council business, only to be gaveled
down by Flaherty.
Another proposal would make it easier for members of the public
to utilize translators during hearings. The final proposal would
force committee chairs to hold fresh hearings if they make significant
changes to resolutions submitted to them.
“The [changes] will democratize the council and provide
the council and general public with venues of better participation,”
said Arroyo.
But Flaherty indicated they may not pass.
“I support the rules we currently have,” he said.
“There are a couple he suggested that are interesting, but
I don’t think there’ll be a consensus.”
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