by Alex Pirie in Uncategorized
Posted on January 9, 2009 at 10:38 pm
loading…
I was looking for some general information about Portland, OR and went to their city website and there, right in full view(!), was a link labled “Request Public Records.” The link leads to a pretty amazing page considering the stonewall sometimes encountered in Somerville. There’s even a link from this to a standard fee schedule. Not always cheap, but right out in the open.
Check it out.
Their commissions page is pretty interesting as well:
“City Boards, Committees and Commissions:
Here’s a list of active boards, committees and commissions. To learn more about a board or commission, just click on the link. There you will find additional vacancy and contact information.
To indicate your interest in serving on a board, committee or commission please complete an application form and return it to the City’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement at 1120 SW 4th Ave, Suite 110 Portland OR 97204. A full list of contacts at the city for boards and commissions is also available.”
Portland has a mayor/commission form of government which, according to the Wikipedia entry on this topic, is often a precurser to the Mayor/Council form adopted by many American cities.
“In May 2007, Portland citizens rejected a ballot measure which would have changed city government to a strong mayor system. Similar changes have been proposed and rejected several times over the years.” Wikipedia – “Government of Portland, Oregon.”
Food for thought!
One additional note, members of the immigrant community and organizations that work with these communities meet once a month with Chief Holloway at the SPD. Surprisingly, to me anyway, under his leadership the SPD is more than willing to work with people to get access to records than just about anywhere else in the city (other than John Long, our excellent City Clerk). I’m impressed.
Alex Pirie
loading…
Somerville’s website may be quite deceptive in a number of ways. i know of one: The Commission for Persons with Disabilities’ webpage was created by a (volunteer) Commissioner in the wee hours over several days in 2005. It has the look of an active Commission even today; however, as far as I know, all the active members resigned in May, 2008 and no one that authored any of the resources is presently available- via city assets- to aid residents or visitors with their relevant questions, concerns, accommodations, etc.
loading...