At one time or another every city and town council finds itself embroiled in a decision that raises controversy.

Some councils handle these situations well. Others, not so much.

But regardless of the issue, one of the worst mistakes that any elected body can make is to not listen to its constituents.

Fultondale’s elected body has run afoul of this principle on at least a couple of occasions: once on the anti-smoking ordinance, and the other on the new nightclub ordinance. The council enacted each without public discussion, then opened the floor for public comment afterward. Both actions have aroused the ire of voters, including an especially raucous group on Facebook.

But Fultondale isn’t the only council to do this. Gardendale has voted first and asked questions later on more than one occasion. In fact, it would be hard to find a council around here that hasn’t done it at least once.

The merits of these particular issues are for another debate and another time. But the problem is clear. Any council that is about to enact legislation of any great consequence should at least listen what their voters have to say. Public discussion at an open meeting is the best place to do that.

Any council which turns a deaf ear to constituents does so at its own peril.

It’s simple: If elected officials don’t listen to the voters during important times, they will be forced to listen when the next election rolls around.

And then, they really may not like what they hear.