Editorial: Governments should be transparent

Talk about it

There are two stories in this week’s edition of the Independent that relate to the sharing of information.

In one, about the online access the city of Farmington has provided to old city council agendas and meeting minutes, the flow of information to the public is nearly overwhelming. Thanks to a significant scanning project undertaken by the city, any Farmington resident with Internet access can find an agenda packet dating back to 1996, or meeting minutes from as far back as 1974.

We can’t imagine why someone would suddenly find himself in need of an agenda from March of 1998, but it’s nice to know the opportunity exists. When it comes to city government, oversharing is better than holding back.

The other story, about the Farmington School Board’s decision to turn one of its two monthly board meetings into a work session, is less clear cut. We can see the benefits of the meetings. Board members say they will allow for more relaxed discussion, which can be a good thing. It’s good for residents to see the decision process behind board votes rather than simply the end product.

We’re less enthusiastic about the decision to move the meetings from 6:30 to 5:30. With many residents working until 5, the change could make it difficult for someone who is interested to attend.

The meetings will be televised, though. That’s a change from the last time the school board tried a workshop format, and we believe it’s a change for the better.

We believe an open government is good for the public. Anything the city of Farmington and the Farmington School District can do to achieve that goal is a step in the right direction.

Tags: editorials, farmington, opinion