Working Effectively With Elected Officials
by Elaine Cogan
A look at how planning commissioners and citizen planners can work effectively with local elected officials.
From PCJ #20, Fall 1995
summaries of other Elaine Cogan articles
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Read first few paragraphs of article:
ow often have you made a particularly difficult decision as a planning commissioner but then left the room relieved that any
angry people you failed to placate can appeal to the governing
body?
Most communities give that recourse to citizens and it is
generally a good idea. As an appointee, you do not have the same
responsibility to the electorate as your community's elected
body.
However, you are not doing your proper job as an appointed
official if most of your commission's opinions are appealed, and
especially, if a majority of your rulings are subsequently
overturned. If that happens often, you may think you are taking
the high road and the elected officials are merely pandering to
the voters, but it also may be a signal that you and your fellow
commissioners are out of step or have not done all you could to
lobby for your points of view.
...
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