In New York State, local governments, school districts and taxing authorities are required by law to hold public hearings before an issue (budget, local law, etc.) is approved. These hearings are rarely well attended and there is a reason for that. Having covered local government news for 37 years in different locations in New York, I've made some observations. I have always found it both interesting and troubling when a taxing authority schedules a public hearing prior to a meeting, but the agenda for that meeting calls for approval of the issue. I can count on both hands the number of times a local government has changed direction on an issue based upon comments received during the public hearing. In theory, the hearing is supposed to afford decision makers the opportunity to gage public sentiment, deliberate the issue and then decide. Here is a classic example from a legal notice posted in todays "The Spectator," formerly the Wellsville Daily and Hornell Evening Tribune. The town of Hartsville is dealing with a local law regarding wind energy farms. The notice states: The Town of Hartsville will hold a Public Hearing for Hartsville
Residents/Taxpayers on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall
concerning the revisions to Local Law #3, Clean Energy Facilities (Wind and
Solar). A short Board Meeting will follow the Public Hearing for the purpose of
adopting the Local Law.
It appears clear, that regardless of the comments made during the 'public hearing,' the town plans to approve the local law...it says so in the legal ad. So...why would anyone attend this "public hearing" when the decision is a foregone conclusion? This...is why people don't attend public hearings. This is why public hearings are typically an absolute waste of time. When the decision has already been made, why attend...other than to have the satisfaction of having your useless say.
If local governments were true servants of the people, public hearings would be held on one date and the decision would be made on a separate date. Lawmakers and decision makers should at least be allowed time to 'think' about what was said. Currently, public hearings are a nuisance because they are required. Further, it is a classic move to schedule a public hearing in the middle of the afternoon. How many of you would take a time from work to attend a useless hearing? Yet, taxing authorities win because they did indeed comply with the law.
I can't tell you the number of hearings I have sat through in an empty room when some government officials says "Well, I guess they don't care."
Admittedly, some hearings are technical, required by law and have little if any bearing on a persons life...however, every now and then, they matter.
I am an Alfred University student of politics - these things matter to me and they should for you. Decisions are made by the people who show up...
My advice - attend public hearings...it scares the Hell out of elected officials when the room is full!
