Letters to the editor, Nov. 3

Rules different for small bodies

To the editor:

Thank you very much for the good headline on the letter you published recently from Jim White and Sigrid Boe: "Chair should not advocate." That is certainly the central and most startling pronouncement of their offering.

"The chair of council should conduct meetings impartially. And while he has the same rights in discussion as other council members, he should not exercise those rights while he is presiding. If he wishes to participate in discussions, he must give up his position and turn the meeting over to the vice chair." I agree with the first sentence, but I respectfully disagree with the second and third, and think they are evidence of a misreading or misunderstanding of parliamentary procedure.

Robert's Rules on this subject in Section 4 begin with a crucial exception: "Except in small boards and committees, the presiding officer should not enter into the discussion of the merits of pending questions." Later in the same section this impartial presider is acknowledged as having the same voting right as any other member of the assembly, but "except in a small board or committee...the chair protects his impartial position by exercising his voting right only when his vote would affect the outcome."

Refraining from exercising voting rights, and "especially in a large body" having anything at all to say about pending questions, is more fully spelled out in Section 43, under the "Rule Against the Chair's Participation in Debate." To participate in debate, he must relinquish the chair and turn the gavel over to the vice president until the main question under discussion has been decided.

But in Section 49, under "Procedure in Small Boards," the exceptions to these principles are also more fully spelled out. "In a board meeting where there are not more than about a dozen members present, some of the formality that is necessary in a large assembly would hinder business." The last given among seven rules governing small meetings that are different from those governing large ones is, "The chairman can speak in discussion without rising or leaving the chair; and, subject to rule or custom within the particular board...he usually can make motions and usually votes on all questions."

I believe our current chair conducts meetings, and in particular conducts discussion on complex and perhaps contentious topics, fairly (if not always "impartially"). David Sonner would be the first to admit -- okay, maybe not the first -- that he does not have a perfect mastery of parliamentary procedure. But he accepts correction by his colleagues, and he often seeks the advice of our parliamentarian when he is unsure.

Our custom is that the president not make motions, but he, like the rest of us, is compelled to cast a vote on every item. Our citizens elect seven council members; should one seventh of the body be barred from holding opinions, or speaking about them, or advocating for them? Mr. Sonner is perfectly correct in declining to recuse himself from every discussion, and especially those upon which he is understood to have an opinion.

David Ashenhurst

Oberlin

City shouldn't subsidize waste

To the editor:

Asked recently by a local reporter, "Do you think it is a good idea for the City of Oberlin to co-generate heat and power with Oberlin College as had been suggested by some other candidates?" My response was, "No, the residents already pay very high property taxes and combined local income tax of four percent to the schools and city because of their non-profit status. We provide police, fire protection, street lighting, storm water and street maintenance, and make available recreation facilities and much more at no cost."

I then asked this reporter, "Why would the residents want to pay to heat the college when year after year you see windows open all winter long when it's freezing outside? You can drive around town and see exactly where the students live in the rental properties by the open doors and windows. And it's not just dormitories but their dining, administrative and academic buildings. You could build a new heat plant on campus and it would not change a thing, because these same individuals do not directly pay the increasingly high utility bills like the average homeowner. "

It seems odd that the Environmental Studies Program, the Department of Psychology and the sustainability coordinator appear to be unable to teach their residents some basics like turning off the lights and showers and closing windows. It is estimated by their own studies that Oberlin College could substantially reduce their carbon footprint and save lots of money in electric, water, sewer and fuel cost by encouraging these measures.

Tony Mealy

Oberlin

Endowment gives opportunities

To the editor:

Last year, my fourth-grade son got the chance to travel with his Prospect School classmates to the amazing limestone Seneca Caverns in Bellevue, Ohio. After clambering through giant caves as deep as 110 feet below the surface, he and his friends panned for colorful minerals and semi-precious gemstones in a real operating mining sluice. Boy, did they have a blast!

This trip, and many other educational opportunities, were funded not by our school district but by the Oberlin Schools Endowment Fund. Launched in 1986, the Endowment awards money each year so our public school students can learn from a wide variety of experiences.

Perhaps you or your children have enjoyed other learning opportunities funded wholly or in part by the Endowment:

* The creative gingerbread houses designed and built by high school students displayed at the Oberlin Public Library each fall.

* The eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.

* The high-school orchestra trip to Italy.

* Safety equipment for baseball and softball teams at the high school.

* The popular Street Law class at the high school.

* The operas at Eastwood.

Our endowment amounts to about $550,000, raised by mostly small donations from Oberlinians. Once a year, a small committee reviews applications for funds for special projects. We use only the interest income from the endowment, and last year we were able to award more than $28,000 for the 2009-10 school year.

Our funds are held in trust under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Lorain County. As trustees, we take very seriously our responsibility for ensuring the safety of donations, and we are currently reviewing our bylaws to make sure all handling of donations is done scrupulously. Virtually all donations are made by checks, our preferred method of donation. The checks are then deposited directly with the Community Foundation.

Soon we will send out a fall mailing asking residents to donate once again to the Endowment. We realize that times are tight. Please consider making even a small donation. Even $5 or $20 donations add up, and we can continue funding exciting events for Oberlin children.

Lynn Haessly

Trustee, Oberlin School Endowment Fund

Name should not be on ballot

To the editor:

Some time ago I decided to withdraw from the race for Oberlin city council. I decided to do so because of the possibility that a conflict of interest could arise, which would require my resignation from council if elected. I did not think it fair to run under the circumstances.

I contacted the Lorain County board of elections by telephone and asked how to withdraw. I was instructed to write to the board and indicate my intention to withdraw. I did so and mailed the original to the board with a copy to the Oberlin News-Tribune.

I learned today my name was on the absentee ballots prepared by the board of elections. I presume this means my name may also appear on the ballots at the polling places as well. Please disregard my name and vote for the candidates who have campaigned and wish to be elected.

I am sorry for any confusion this may have created

Frank S. Carlson

Oberlin