David Rogers had a great column in the Wicked Local Topsfield site a few days ago. It has a great opening…

When it comes to storing leftovers, clear plastic wrap is preferable over aluminum foil. The main reason being is that you can find out what’s been going on since you placed the pizza slice or turkey sandwich in the refrigerator merely by looking. Local governments should be just as transparent.

It’s difficult enough for journalists to peel back the foil and find out what a local government has been up to. For taxpayers, it’s even more arduous. Yes, meetings are open to the public and are broadcast on local cable channels. The minutes of meetings are available as are the e-mails of all public officials. But meeting the standards of the Freedom of Information Act isn’t enough to stop residents from feeling like their officials are hiding things from them.

Rogers goes on to describe a situation in Topsfield, MA where the local town board made two appointments to the conservation commission, over the protests of the existing commission members. Feelings were hurt, and resignations were handed in for all but the two newly appointed members. All of that local town drama adds up to one thing- a bad taste in the mouth of Topsfield residents. Public disclosure and discussion of the documents regarding the new appointments would have lent an air of respect and transparency to the proceedings.

Let this be a lesson for all municipal, county, state, federal, and all levels of government in-between: It pays dividends to be transparent; financially, and most importantly, in public trust.

Category: sunshine