Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
Havre City Council members and Havre residents soon will be able to get business taken care of a little earlier on Monday nights.
Starting April 17, City Council meetings will begin at 7 p.m. instead of 8. The City Council approved the change at its regular meeting Monday night.
Some council members today said the time change isn't a big deal for them, but added that it may encourage more city residents to come to their meetings.
“Oftentimes, when people get home and get settled in, an 8 o'clock meeting is a little late,” council member Jack Brandon said. “We may get a little more people at the 7 o'clock meeting.”
Council member Pam Hillery said the earlier start time will make meetings with longer discussions more manageable.
“For the public, which is really why we're there, it's better tomeet at 7,” she said. “Often we do have topics that need discussion.”
Both Brandon and Hillery said the cange doesn't affect them personally.
“It was really six of one, a half-dozen of the the other for me,” Hillery said.
Both noted that the 8 p.m. start time made it easier to hold committee meetings the same night as City Council meetings, but said those meetings could be held earlier or on other days.
In other City Council news:
At an earlier Finance Committee meeting, Havre Mayor Bob Rice said he is reviewing city expenditures and asking his department heads about specific bills he has questions on. Several bills have been questioned by City Council members and residents over the last year.
Rice gave Havre Assistant Fire Chief Tim Ranes a community service award for his duties as coach of the Havre High School boys and girls cross country teams. Ranes was named Coach of the Year by the Montana Coach's Association for his leadership of the girls team, which took second at the state meet in the fall. At the Feb. 21 meeting, Rice gave a community service award to Marlyn Damson for her work as a foster parent, with senior citizens, American Legion Auxiliary, and at the Eagle's Manor, Havre Middle School and Nothern Montana Hospital.
The City Council's Parks and Recreation Committee will consider a request by the Town Square Committee to have city workers begin mowing the Town Square. The committee will meet Monday at 7 p.m. to consider the request.
