“ A fundamental premise of American democratic theory is that government exists to serve the people. … Public records are one portal through which the people observe their government, ensuring its accountability, integrity, and equity while minimizing sovereign mischief and malfeasance” -- Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner
Bristol's city government needs to put its commitment to sunlight rather than shadow on a more solid footing. There should be, in every case and every situation, a presumption that records are available, quickly and cheaply. There should be an overwhelming effort to ensure the public knows about meetings, and what happens at those meetings. There ought to be as easy a way as possible for residents to know what's going to happen at City Hall, what is happening at City Hall and what already happened at City Hall.
In short, change is needed.
I got to thinking the other day that this is a perfect time for those of us who care about the free flow of information to push for reforms that would put Bristol at the head of the pack when it comes to letting the sun shine on its municipal activities.
Now we all know that Bristol, like the other 168 municipalities in Connecticut, has to obey the many state laws that touch on open government. That's a necessity, of course.
But Bristol has the power to go further, to become a model.
So what could be done in Bristol to make government more transparent and make it simpler for residents to know what's going on?
I thought I'd make a list of suggested reforms that can be expanded as people offer more good ideas and revised as they show what's wrong with my own far-from-perfect suggestions. At some point, I'll offer them to the Charter Revision Commission and/or the Ordinance Committee to shoot down or perhaps approve. Let's see what happens.
Here are a few suggestions to get started:
1. The city is currently able to hold a special meeting with 24 hours' notice as long as it is posted on a bulletin board at City Hall before 5 p.m. on the day prior to the meeting. That should be changed in two key ways.
First off, aside from grave emergencies, there's no reason that a 48 or 72 hour notice wouldn't suffice -- and that would allow much more opportunity for the public to hear about a meeting and maybe attend it.
Second, the city should be required to post all of its meetings on its website and to send emails to anyone who requests receiving electronic notification as well. This is absurdly easy and cheap and would vastly expand the number of people who would know something's up. There really is no excuse for not doing it.
2. The minutes of every public meeting should be online within a week. They're already required to be finished by then, per state law, so stick them up on the city's website as well. They can go up initially as unapproved minutes and then when they are formally approved, the final version can be put there instead.
This is another no-brainer for anyone who has an interest in letting people know what's going on in city government. The planning department is already doing a pretty good job of exactly this.
3. All of the non-confidential background information that is provided to board members, city councilors and commissioners in the course of their duties should also be available online at the same time it's distributed to decision-makers.
4. Every city employee should know exactly what records are public information within their own office and be prepared to share them with anyone who asks as quickly as possible.
5. There should be a law that municipal employees cannot be told by superiors that they are not allowed to speak about government business with the public, the press or anyone else. There ought not be any more "gag orders" imposed on anyone in city government.
6. Copies of records should cost no more than the expense of the material used. Unless state law specifically requires a specific charge for a particular record, the only cost should be for the cost of paper, ink, computer discs or other mediums used in copying a record. Nobody should have to pay $1 a page or the like in order to get a copy of a city report.
That's enough to get things started. I have some more ideas, but they can wait. I'm curious to see what other proposals might get added by smarter, wiser folks.
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
4 comments:
Excellent ideas, I've been advocating similar versions for years. But it always falls on deaf ears.
Bristol, ahead of the pack?
Bristol, a model?
Are we talking about the same Mum City here?
The Bristol, CT I know is backward and does not have the brains or the cohones to be a leader in the fight for open government.
Good ideas, though, every one. You're smart and thoughtfu, Steve. It must be frustrating to have your job.
The committee secretaries should have to take a course in composing the minutes to a meeting. So many gloss over what happened and what was said and then the minutes end up missing information that is important in conveying what really happened during the meeting.
From Art Mocabee, chairman of Bristol's Republican Party:
Do I detect a bit of frustration? None the less, I appreciate what you are doing as in some ways Bristol R's have been trying to "let the sunshine in" on many issues over the last several years.
Your 48-72 hour suggestion to call a special meeting is about the only one I can not support fully. While I understand the practicality of it, sometimes the City's business needs immediate attention. Elected officials need to know this before they are elected. If all of your other suggestions were to be adapted, meeting notices and information can be posted and emailed.
Greater access to information, minutes, and meeting dates is a must. To accomplish this however, the city would have to hire perhaps one or two MIS specialists that can post information quickly, maintain email addresses and provide general maintenance and updating of the web site. In addition it would have to become a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for every department and board to communicate there information to the webmaster for broadcast emailing as well as web-site posting. I am sure there are more issues then what I have sited.
While not impossible, the idea does have challenges and costs. I believe these challenges can be over-come and the benefits would out weight the costs.
We need to do this.
I would also suggest that our local newspapers publish meetings as a routine by-line. Why the BP and others do not do this is astounding to me, as all of you journalists are so bent on the public's right to know!
Thanks for seeing some much needed reform and to talk about it for all to see.
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