"Community Matters," a grant-funded effort launched by the public library to strengthen the community, is looking for a new model for discussing and resolving community conflicts.

Seventeen residents attended the effort’s third meeting, hosted by moderator Dan Henry and held Nov. 17 at the library. A common sentiment was that Haines Borough Assembly meetings don’t lend themselves to good solutions.

"Being active is what works, but there’s literally not enough time at a borough assembly meeting if you have something that’s the least bit controversial, and you want to have any decent discussion. Most meetings are run by Roberts’ Rules of Order and they can be used to shut people up and out," said resident Bill Kurz.

Assemblyman Steve Vick voiced similar concerns with the assembly process, pointing to a recent effort by the borough to shift debate about helicopter skiing to a roundtable of citizens involved in the issue.

A primary theme that has come from the first two "Community Matters" meetings is communication, said librarian Patricia Brown, and how residents talk with each other. "What we’re hearing is that people want to have more public participation, but they want it to be civil."

Different types of talking circles were discussed and some participants spoke of the need for "an interest-based bargaining process" instead of a debate format, based on positions. "Our problem isn’t heli-skiing. Our problem is the method that we go about problem-solving," said Dana Hallett.

Discussion of a new model of civic discourse is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at the library. Participants are asked to bring two people who have opinions different from their own. The idea is to try out a new model of resolving conflict, using an actual issue.

Other concerns cited by meeting participants included that:

-- Recommendations by committees and commissions too often are ignored by those in power. "The first step is getting the assembly to commit to letting commissions make decisions that the assembly will abide by.

Otherwise, we might as well throw them all out," said resident Ned Rozbicki.

-- Enclaves within the community stymie critical thought. "The Haines Borough is expansive enough that people can develop their little enclaves," said moderator Henry. "There’s a certain amount of like-mindedness that goes with that, too."

-- Not enough residents participate on borough matters on the committee level, where ideas often are more broadly discussed. "People come to meetings and will scream and shout about some problem with their neighbor or small issues, but they disregard the budget committee meetings and the budget matters the most," Kurz said.

Rozbicki said a big part of strengthening the community is bringing people of differing opinions together. Toward that end, "Community Matters" meetings should be held in different venues, including the Elks Lodge, he said.

Ann Myren said the community suffers from not anticipating the future and planning for it.

"We’re always dealing with an issue when it’s an issue, not thinking today about what’s going to happen in five or ten years, and not talking about" issues before they become immediate. Issues on the horizon tend to be less emotional and easier to discuss, Myren said.

Several participants expressed concern about a growing polarization in the nation among people of differing opinions, and some claimed the same phenomenon was occurring here.

Participant Art Jess, an Alaska Native, said he was hoping more Natives would participate in future meetings. Librarian Brown said "Community Matters" was scheduled only for four meetings, but there seemed to be interest in additional meetings.

Kurz, a regular at borough meetings who also videotapes local gatherings for broadcast, expressed optimism in the program. "Haines isn’t one community. It’s at least three distinct communities and when one gets an idea, the other two tend to pounce on it, but it’s this sort of thing that’s starting to bring this thing around."