Hi Everybody~
Below is a message from Mike Fleck, inviting everyone to the first of a series of "summits" he plans to hold with West Ward residents, to get public input and come up with an agenda for when he begins representing us on City Council in January, 2010:
Where are we? Where are we going?
I would like to start by thanking everyone who supported me on Election Day. I thank you for remembering what I helped accomplish in four years on City Council and for believing in my vision for the future of Easton. I would also like to thank Dennis for continuing to bring issues to the forefront and challenging all of us.
For those who do not know me I would like to give a brief introduction. I am Mike Fleck. I have lived in the West Ward for nearly 32 years and currently live on Lehigh St. with my wife, Alison, and 21 month old child, David. I look forward to raising my son in the West Ward. I have seen the neighborhood in good times and then in bad times and I believe it is much better in the last few years than it has been in many years, but we have a lot to do to make the West Ward the great neighborhood it can be.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in English from Moravian College. I currently work for the Mayor of Allentown. This is my job and like many in Easton it puts me out of town many hours a week. However, when I am off I am completely dedicated to the City of Easton. Since leaving City Council in 2006, I have worked with various programs in the West Ward. In the last year, I have had the privilege to serve on a committee with the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, host the largest National Night Out block party, and do the best thing I could for the West Ward and my family, fix up my home.
I want to start this term on City Council similarly to how I started my first term. I want to come up with a clear agenda and a check list of what needs to be accomplished to make the West Ward and Easton a better place. This time, however, I would like to have even more citizen input in this process. Last time, I spoke with close friends and supporters. This time I have grown and would like to include everyone in the agenda creation.
When trying to figure out the best way to have meetings to decide where we are and where we are going, I decided first not to call them meetings. I have chosen to call them summits. I want this to serve notice that the summits are not meant to be complaining sessions or to be a dictatorial here is what I am doing meeting. They are to be productive discussion on where we are and where we want to be and probably most important how do we get there. We will create an agenda, together, that I can take to City Council and together fight for to make our neighborhood stronger.
We will all come to these sessions with personal biases. I ask that we put them aside, all of us including me, to help strengthen our community. I have decided to host the first summit at my home and I hope that someone with agree to have the next one in their home. The setting is less meeting like and promotes a more, excuse the pun, homely feel. The summits should be like the coffee klatches of old where real problems in the neighborhood were discussed and solved. I have written a tentative agenda below that serves as a guide to get us started.
Thank you for reading this and I hope you come to the summit. Everyone is welcome and all I ask is that you be open minded and bring your best ideas to help our neighborhood.
Here are the details of the first summit:
1st West Ward Summit
When: November 19th 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
Where: 1121 Lehigh St.
*Refreshments will be provided and please RSVP by November 15th by calling (610)253-1068 or emailing mpfleck1313@aol.com
Tentative Summit Agenda
I. Welcoming Remarks (Mike Fleck)
II. Introductions (Everyone)
III. Issues For Discussion & Suggested Legislation (Everyone)
A. Crime & Public Safety
B. Quality of Life
C. Economic Development
D. Parks & Recreation
E. Financial & Budgetary
F. Social Justice Issues
IV. Scheduling of Next Summit (Everyone)
V. Closing Remarks (Mike Fleck)
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Post your comments and concerns for Mike here.
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5 comments:
Well let's see just how long it takes for Michael to show is true colors. Has he matured? Is he more interested in moving the city forward or his own political career? Time will tell but if the Michael I know appears ---- look out he will be the Ron Angle of city council.
It's important for everyone to put their best foot forward and let time tell. I did let Mike know that I didn't think his house was a good place to host, as it would be a challenging place to feel comfortable potentially disagreeing with him, as some are bound to do and it's important for people to feel comfortable, to have an effective listening session. I also worry about the venue in terms of the sheer size of some of the resident meetings we've had in the past (i.e., the 84 that came to our second meeting with the mayor, the 54 that came to our town hall meeting, etc.) but we have to hope for the best and see how it goes. Hopefully he has a big living room!
Mike mentioned that he wants to rotate the meetings through homes of other residents throughout the year, but hasn't said with what frequency yet--I'm sure that will all get discussed at the summit.
hay Ilike Ron Angle dont insult him like that. were is the location of this meeting.
1121 Lehigh St. You can click "Read More" at the bottom of this post on the home page to see the whole message from Mike, which has the address and other details.
Unfortunately I will not be able to make it, but definitely keep me informed of the outcome(which I know you'll do! :)
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