Published: November 01, 2008 12:39 am      

Council hopefuls want better communication

Candidates discuss ideas on city/citizen interaction

CUMBERLAND — The bond between city and citizen is an important factor and the three candidates contending for two open City Council seats on Tuesday’s ballot are all working on improving that.

David Kauffman said communication is a big necessity with getting the city and the general public to interact more. He said the function of communication is so people have the opportunity to express their opinions during meetings and having direct access to those they have elected.

“The real issue is giving people the sense that someone is listening when they’re talking,” Kauffman said. “I am running for a position that is to represent the general population of Cumberland and the very least I can do as an elected official is be responsive to the opinions and input provided by members of the community.”

Brian Grim said the need for bettering this interaction should be accomplished with the things already in place, such as through community groups.

“I have worked with community groups before and will continue to work with them,” he said. “We also need to meet with people in all of the departments working in the city.”

Grim said it is critical to work directly with citizens and to talk with people in all of the departments on a daily basis.

“It is important to keep a constant involvement with the folks casting votes and who we are representing,” he said.

Incumbent Mary Beth Pirolozzi also thinks involvement with groups and committees is an important way for interaction to begin. She said she would like to get people to serve on various committees, first of all those pertaining to their neighborhoods because that has a direct impact on them.

“I’m hoping to get people engaged in their neighborhoods,” Pirolozzi said. “I want to start getting people to take pride in their neighborhood, take issues to the (neighborhood) advisory council and, in turn, have the council take those issues to the city.”

She wants to see more people attending and interacting at City Council meetings. Though Pirolozzi knows not all are inclined to use of the Internet, she said the City Council is working to make more information available on its home page.

“The agenda and items for meetings are usually available the Friday before our meetings,” she said. “(Posting this) will let the general public become accustomed to looking at the agenda and what items are of interest to them.”

Pirolozzi will also try to get the public involved with the budget process.

“This past year we started having the departments making presentations, and I think that’s a great opportunity for people to hear what is actually happening in each department,” she said. “It gives people the opportunity to listen and understand what is going on.”

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.