Reply With QuoteThat is just being too petty....
During the break period between the pre-meeting and the regular town board meeting, I notice that a quorum of the town board members meet in the conference room behind the board room.
Do we know if they discuss public business or not? I notice the town attorney is also a member of the discussion group. Is it a discussion protected by attorney/client privilege?
Georgia L Schlager
That is just being too petty....
The above is opinion & commentary, I am exercising my 1st Amendment rights as a US citizen. Posts are NOT made with any malicious intent.
Elected officials should strive for transparency in 2023 - Another Voice/Government
In January, many people will start the new year with goals to exercise more, eat better, lose weight, etc. January will also be when newly elected public servants or incumbents starting another term take office across New York State.
Old habits are hard to change in people and especially hard to change in government.
The biggest issue in government today is the lack of trust the public has in elected leaders.
The best way to build trust as an elected official is through transparency. Elected officials should begin 2023 by conducting the public's business in an open and transparent way.
To show their commitment to open government, elected officials serving on a village board, town board, city council or a county legislature should introduce and pass a New Year resolution stating they will:
•Post timely notice of all meetings at least one week prior to all meetings.
•Post online at least 24 hours before a meeting occurs the meeting agendas and all meeting documents.
•Post draft meeting minutes online, no more than two weeks after a meeting occurs.
•Allow members of the public to speak at the beginning of a meeting regarding agenda items and non-agenda items whether attending in person or remotely.
•Livestream their meetings by video and post the video recording online afterward.
•Only conduct private executive sessions on rare occasions in accordance with the New York State Open Meetings Law. Just because you can hold an executive session does not mean that you have to. A motion to hold an executive session to discuss "litigation," "personnel" or "collective bargaining" is not sufficient, as the Open Meetings Law requires motions to state more information when holding an executive session.
•Agree to not hold private political party caucus meetings. There is no reason at the local level to hold private political party caucus meetings to discuss political business or public business. Secret meetings build a lack of trust among the public.
•Have information regarding the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) posted in a visible place on your website. Proactively post documents online as much as possible so that the public can access information without having to file a FOIL request. Post an easy fill-in-the-blank form that assists the public in filing a FOIL request by email on your website.
•Commit to ensuring that all FOIL requests are acknowledged within five days as required by law and that information is provided to the public promptly.
Paul Wolf, Esq., is president of the New York Coalition For Open Government.
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