« Ind. Decisions - "Appeals judge vacates charge: But won't affect man's time in jail" | Main | Ind. Gov't. - Henry County zoning amendment would allow the CAFOs closer to some homes »
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Ind. Gov't. - Open up Commission on Local Government Reform
So opines the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in an editorial today:
The Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform could lead to significant changes in how government serves, represents and taxes Hoosiers, but it got off to an inauspicious start Wednesday by meeting behind closed doors.Niki Kelly of the Journal Gazette reported Thursday on the new Commssion. Some quotes:Yes, the respected co-chairmen – former Gov. Joe Kernan and Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard – briefed reporters on what happened. To its credit, the commission plans to gain public input in several ways, accepting e-mails and letters, and planning public testimony at hearings.
And no, the commission does not appear to be subject to Indiana’s Open Meetings law, which requires much of the rest of Indiana government to meet in public.
But the commission is most certainly dealing with the public’s business. And it’s difficult to believe the first meeting would involve material so secret and sensitive that allowing the public to listen and watch would derail its mission: Making local government more efficient by eliminating or consolidating certain offices and services.
Gov. Mitch Daniels is right to seek ways to improve the structure of local government. Starting with a commission is a sound idea, and most of his appointments have been both appropriate and politically astute.
In some ways, appointing the commission acknowledges that a bill adopted in 2006 allowing local governments to restructure themselves has not succeeded. A statewide approach is both appropriate and, most likely, necessary.
But the commission can learn one lesson from so far unsuccessful efforts to combine Fort Wayne and Allen County governments: Secrecy breeds distrust. Many of the earlier efforts to seek ways to combine the two governments were conducted by government and business elite without informing or involving the public, giving opponents credibility when they attacked the process.
The commission should make private meetings the exception, not the rule. All its meetings should arguably be open.
If the commission thinks some private meetings are really necessary, they should be limited to subject matter similar to what state law allows to be discussed behind closed doors – personnel and strategy.
All of the commission members are well accustomed to working under public scrutiny. Collectively, they would best serve Hoosiers and have the best chance of success if future meetings are open to the public.
Besides seeking input from Hoosiers, the commission will have at least three public moderated forums statewide – possibly in October – where Hoosiers can come speak their minds.The new Commission has a website, I'm told, but the ILB does not have the link.But the real decisions will be made behind closed doors – as the group’s first meeting was Wednesday.
And virtually all the grunt work will be done by the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs – including interviews with those who have direct interests in various levels of government.
“Part of our task here is the very short time frame under which we’re operating and an incredibly complex matter. That’s part of it. And the ability to tease out and challenge ideas without worrying about whether somebody gets the idea that that’s the answer we think in the end will make for a better product,” Shepard said.
Recommendations are due from the group in December, which Daniels originally said would make the ideas available for the 2008 legislative session starting in January.
Recently, though, Daniels has said he believes there should be a yearlong debate on the ideas during the 2008 election year, with the legislature considering proposals in 2009 and 2010.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 25, 2007 10:30 AM
Posted to Indiana Government