Will the new council members be leaders or followers? Will they provide new direction or will things remain the same? Will there be open government or closed government? Will they be proactive in informing the public and seeking public input?
One complaint you will never hear about our city government is that it is too transparent. People never complain that our government officials spend too much time discussing government affairs in open meetings and seeking public input; or that they spend too much time informing the public about the government’s plans and activities; or that they are tired of hearing about how efficiently or inefficiently the government is spending their tax money.
The three new council members who were recently elected constitute a majority of the city’s five-member council. They can provide new leadership and ensure that all discussions and decisions involving city government are open to the public and that public input and comments are always welcomed. An informed public is fundamental to our form of government. Over forty years ago, when signing the Freedom of Information Act, President Johnson said, “No one should be able to pull the curtains of secrecy around decisions which can be revealed without injury to the public interest.” What applies at the federal level certainly applies at the local level of government.
The newly elected officials can put a stop to violations of the open meeting law; put a stop to expenditures which are made without advanced public knowledge; put a stop to filling city positions without proper advertising and without interviewing candidates; put a stop to pay increases which are purportedly based on the annual consumer price index when, in fact, they are not; put a stop to contracts which are awarded without biding and without prior council approval; put a stop to possible conflict of interest situations; put a stop to a lack of enforcement of city ordinances, etc. More examples could be added to the list, but the key is that by taking active steps to keep the public fully informed and involved in the process of forming policies and making decisions, the new council members can create a positive image of city government for the betterment of Eddyville.
"Government ought to be all outside and no inside." President, Woodrow Wilson.
New council members have a lot to learn when they first take office. In the past, they have been fairly passive on the council and would let the administration or more experienced council members set the agenda. But this does not have to be the case. The Iowa League of Cities conducts an excellent program every two years for newly elected officials. And the current elected officials can also benefit from the current up-to-date information on municipal operations and by taking advantage of the networking opportunities that the sessions offer. The program is called the Municipal Leadershi8p Academy (MLA) and it consists of three parts: Part One is offered in various cities during November thru December, 2009; Part Two is broadcast over the internet in January; and Part Three is held in April. In the past eight years, I am aware of only one or two council members from Eddyville who have attended these sessions.
If the council members are interested, the first session starts next Saturday, November 21, and will be held in Fairfield. There are later sessions, but they will be held in cities in other parts of the state. The following is quoted from the MLA brochure: “Leadership in city government involves making policy decisions that affect the day-to-day lives of citizens. City decision making is impacted by local, state and federal regulations. It is vital for mayors, council members and other city officials to understand the essentials of city government, especially those new to office. Basics covered during the series include: municipal law, city finance and budgeting, employment and personnel issues, land use and zoning basics, meeting procedures.”
One of the first challenges facing the new council members will be participating in the budget process for the coming fiscal year budget. City budgets are complex and not like budgets for businesses. The Iowa League of Cities also sponsors a separate Budget Workshop: “Budgeting for Beginners, which will provide step-by-step instructions on completing a budget; and Participation in the Budget Process which will feature a roundtable discussion on strategies for involving elected officials and citizens in the budget process.” These workshops will be held in various cities throughout the state, but the closest one to Eddyville will be the Budget Workshop being held in Iowa City and it is also the earliest one. It will be held in just a few days on November 17.
The League of Cities does a great job with these educational programs. Hopefully, our new council members as well as the more experienced ones and the Mayor will take advantage of these programs.