Ubuntu Brainstorm? Server software suggestions please!

I'd like to find a similar sort of software, not ideatorrent, because that would require a full installation of drupal, but some very simple software for users to submit/vote on ideas/proposals for a semi-democratic committee that I'm on. I'd like to enable the people whom this committee serves to have a direct say and to be able to directly interact with the committee. They are allowed to come to meetings but as it is a monthly inter-state affair often requiring a lot of driving and time this would allow them to have their voices heard without physically attending the meetings.

Thanks!

(I'd really like to find something lighter weight than a full Drupal installation, I've had issues dealing with Drupal before!)

Something lighter weight than Drupal is probably an irc channel or some other live chat room. There are proprietary tools for that as well as open source ones.