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Saturday, 16 February 2008 |
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Jeannetta Edwards There’s a great deal of talk right now about secrecy in government. The American Civil Liberties Union is bemoaning the Bush administration. In Mississippi, the guidelines for public records and public meetings are under review.
This is not just “much ado about nothing.” Public officials, whether elected or appointed by an elected party, should be accountable to the citizens. It is just that simple.
My grandmother used to say, “What’s done in the dark will soon come to the light.” That very simple philosophy is very true.
Some local officials have a real problem with having the light shine on their actions. Far too long have they kept the public in the dark about how they run this city and county and how they allocate the public funds.
Now, suddenly, county officials have become very concerned with “tightening the belt” on county spending. Looking back at some of the decisions they made in the past, one does not see conservatism — in some cases, one does not even see common sense used in some expenditures.
It is time our officials learn the public has a right to know. Citizens should not be given only what the politicians feel they “need to know.”
Recently, the Clay County Board of Supervisors went into executive session to discuss “pending litigation.” That action was legal. Yet, while they were in that session, they allowed another party to enter and discuss another unrelated matter — without the benefit of ending the executive session, reopening the board meeting to the public and announcing any action taken. If another executive session was required, the board should have gone back into executive session for that reason.
It’s questionable actions like this that make citizens leery of what politicians do. The state Supreme Court has ruled that the two most popular reasons for closed sessions of public bodies —discuss personnel matters or litigation — are too vague.
Executive sessions require a motion to close the meeting. What I have observed at most county meetings is a form of parliamentary procedure that only our supervisors understand. They certainly have not in the past employed those as outlined in Roberts Rules of Order.
The written minutes of all public bodies are to be available to the public, without the party making the request being required to state the reason they wish to see the minutes. They are public record. Any action taken in an executive or closed sessions must be recorded in the minutes as well.
Minutes should be available within 30 days of the public meeting.
Citizens have the right to inspect certain public records as well.
Anyone who wants records from a public body can submit a written request, and no public body can take more than 14 days to respond to a written request. Public bodies can charge a fee to make copies of the requested records, but it is up to the citizen to decide if they simply want to take notes or if they need to have a copy of the record itself.
According to the Mississippi Public Records Act: “Public records shall be available for inspection by any person.” However, there are some exemptions.
It is the responsibility of every citizen to check up on what their elected officials are doing — at least once and a while.
Accountability is only valid if someone cares enough to check up every now and then. Drop in at the supervisors’ meeting or the Mayor and Board of Selectmen or some of the city or county agencies. Listen to what is said and observe how the meetings are conducted.
It is your business — and your tax dollars are paying the bills. You have a right to know public information. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 February 2008 )
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