By: Oniska Blevins

Citizens will have a chance to let their voices be heard on Monday, March 26 at the Arts Revive Carneal building pavilion as they join the mayor for his “Minutes and Moments and with Mayor Melton” initiative.

Once a month, the mayor’s office will host an intimate conversation between Selma Mayor Darrio Melton and the community. The one hour conversations will start at 6 p.m. Melton will be interviewed by a local public figure for thirty minutes and afterwards the floor will be open to community members for questions.

Melton said the purpose of these meetings will be to build stronger relationships between citizens and the government.

“Citizens need to have access to their government; citizsens need to be able to have these dialog and communications with government,” he said.

Non-profit organizations and local businesses will be highlighted for their positive efforts in the community as well. Melton believes in transparency and these meetings will give the citizens a chance to speak directly to him and hear factual information.

“I think the community should be aware,” he said. “I do believe it’s a partnership with government in order for us to be successful as a city.”

Miscommunication and misinformation are two main issues that cause a disconnect between city government and citizens according to the mayor. He believes these meetings should not focus on what is wrong in Selma, but on finding a solution.

“We want to use these minutes and moments to talk about solutions for the issues that we have in our city,” he said.

The mayor said this type of dialog affords him the opportunity to be more available for citizens, and he is willing to take things a step further if it isn’t enough.

He said he is willing to schedule a time to meet and speak with citizens individually to talk about their issue or concerns for the community.