February 26, 2022

Emily Barkham,

Chairperson, Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC), Oakland Township

cc: PRC Commissioners, BOT

Subject: February 23^rd PRC Meeting

I thought that allowing several public question and answer periods during Dr. Ben Vanderweide’s 159 slide presentation “2022 Natural Areas Stewardship Overview and Update” was extremely helpful. I hope this will set the pattern for future annual presentations and more residents will attend and ask questions about the complex Natural Areas Stewardship program. It was gratifying to see Township Trustee Dave Mabry in attendance and asking questions. Public Q&A, in my view, is a very effective way to increase public understanding of any township issue and to increase a board or commission’s understanding of the public views. Increased mutual understanding, in my view, leads to better decisions by government bodies and voters.

I also thought the round-table seating format should be considered for all meetings. It allows PRC members to hear each other better and to see each other’s expressions and body-language when communicating; which in my view,  sometimes constitutes 50% of the communication.

Bob Yager – Resident