OPEN GOVERNMENT

I wrote an item a few days ago stating that I believe strongly in "government in the sunshine." At the special City Council meeting held on Tuesday, July 28, Council determined the process by which they would choose the new city manager. The consultant hired to help the city with the selection recommended that the process be open to the public. Council voted, without a dissenting vote, to keep the process closed to the public. The reason seems to be that some candidates for the position might not want their names released.

I strongly disagree with the position taken by City Council. The city manager is the chief operating officer of the city. Although he/she is chosen by, and serves at the discretion of the City Council, the city manager must deal directly with the citizens of the city. Therefore, in my opinion, the citizens of the city should have some input into the process.

I understand that around 130 people applied for the position. I do not believe that making public the names and resumes of all 130 would serve the best interest of the citizens - as the young people say, "TMI." The City Council, with the help of the consultant can easily pare the list to a group of perhaps ten to twenty candidates whose references may be checked more thoroughly and about whom additional information may be obtained. Based on the additional screening, three to five serious candidates can be chosen. At this point, the names and all information obtained about these candidates should be made public, and these candidates should be interviewed publicly. The public should be allowed to participate in the questioning and to make recommendations to the Council before an open vote on the selection is taken by Council.

Such an open process would give the citizens a feeling of confidence that the person chosen for the position was the best fit for the city, not a crony of some political faction.

I welcome your comments here or at boyett2009@gmail.com.

Also, please see my web site at www.boyettforcitycouncil.com.