People like and need firsthand opportunities to discuss agency programs and plans. Through meetings, people learn that an agency is not a faceless, uncaring bureaucracy and that the individuals in charge are real people.
Meetings give agencies a chance to respond directly to comments and dispel rumors or misinformation.
Far from being passive gatherings, meetings are interactive occasions when people discuss issues of consequence to them and their neighbors, listen to opposing viewpoints on the issues, and work together for the common good. Agency staff people who handle public meetings need to be trained in skills that encourage interaction and also keep the process focused and productive. The particular circumstances of a plan or project determine the type of meeting that is appropriate, when it is held, the way it is organized, and how it is conducted. Because they demand time and effort from all participants, meetings must be planned and implemented carefully.