Last night Lakewood City Council began the 2006 budget hearings. Technically, council is meeting as the committee of the whole. In previous years just the finance committee held the hearings but council president Robert Seelie determined that since the full council will ultimately have to review the budget it might as well be in on the deliberations from the beginning.

Council must organize itself before it can legislate. The Lakewood City Charter prescribes the procedure.

At the December 5, 2005 meeting, Lakewood City Council got a head start on the next year.

Council President Robert Seelie called the November 21st meeting to order at 7:40 pm. As is prescribed by the agenda, the Clerk of Council calls the roll as instructed by the president. This is usually a routine step. Mary Louise Madigan (ward 4) was absent. An absence must be excused by a vote of council members. Legislative courtesy usually prevails and the absence is excused. However, councilmember Ryan Demro (ward 2), since first taking his seat, always inquires as to the reason for a member’s absence to maintain public accountability for a member missing a meeting. Council president Seelie usually does not divulge reasons for absences. Courtesy prevailed and council voted to approve the absence.

Lakewood City Council always has a meeting the evening before the Fall General Election. When the election is for our local Lakewood offices and issues, the meeting sometimes has an eerie, surreal quality to it. This article’s council report will be a chronicle–one person’s view–of the 36 hours from election eve through the day after the election.

Council President Robert Seelie called the October 17, 2005 meeting to order.

SS. Cyril & Methodius School is a Catholic school with chutzpah.

Council 11.20. 2006
The November 20 council meeting started with well deserved resolutions recognizing Lakewood’s athletes as they pursue their personal best and team wins.