Citizen involvement. It makes for good decisions and a strong government. However, our current Town Council meetings show how citizen involvement can also go wrong. For some reason, our town has about eight “frequent flyers,” unelected people who monopolize the Call to the Public and characterize their personal thoughts as representing those of the town’s majority. Not so.

These folks repeat the same tired messages, represent themselves as experts, waste our time and speak disrespectfully to our elected representatives. Their messages are often delivered as a lecture, in an angry and condescending manner. In addition, while others adhere to published protocols and decorum, the frequent flyer cheering squad applauds noisily, in spite of constant admonitions to stop. I am suggesting also that in the future, those who defy the rules are escorted out as indicated in the meeting guidelines.

Meetings used to be informative and interesting. Now they have become an endurance test. I think it’s time to shorten public comments to two minutes, instead of three. Our repeat performers need to be brief and to the point. On student award nights, let’s consider cutting back on agenda items, so we can show our students and their families the best in town citizenship and how democracy works.

I’m also asking that frequent flyers and those who participate in the call to the public, drop the bravado and performance art at the door. Let’s return to the days when Fountain Hills Town governance was about enacting solutions, not creating problems.