The words "openness" and "transparency" seem to be the buzz words in politics these days.  In reality, openness and transparency are much more than buzz words; they are vital to ensure that the public stays informed and to ensure that government business takes place in the light of day.

In the Effingham Daily News on December 14, 2010, Effingham City Administrator Jim Arndt proposed a waste cutting measure that includes not having ordinances and resolutions available for public consumption at city council meetings.  Instead, Arndt would like the meeting agenda to have a summery of the resolutions and ordinances that will be discussed at that evening's meeting.  Meanwhile, citizens would still be able to pick up copies or review proposed discussion topics at the City Clerk's Office. 

I would respectfully disagree with Arndt and any council members that are supportive of this idea.  All materials should remain available to the public at the meetings.  I think that we can find other areas to make cuts in waste, which if elected, I look forward to working with City Administrator Arndt to find and eliminate those areas of waste within our city budget. 

There is already an existing level of distrust between the people of Effingham and the current City Council and Mayor as they sought to pursue both the Sports Complex and the City Administrator, ignoring the will of the people as a majority democratically voted against both issues in two separate referenda. 

In addition, the current city administration has thrown roadblocks in front of people looking for answers.  For instance, a concerned citizen of Effingham had to file three (3) Freedom of Information Act requests just to get a copy of the city budget.  Furthermore, Samantha Newburn, reporter at the Effingham Daily News, had to file four (4) FOIA requests just to get information regarding which citizens the city had talked to during the hiring process for the new City Administrator.  Asking the people of Effingham to trust this current city administration with summaries of topics for discussion, without providing hard copies at meetings, would be asking too much at this point.

Openness and transparency.  These are two ideas that I believe must find their way back into the Effingham city government.  If elected, I will propose a few changes that I believe are necessary to create and preserve openness and transparency while helping to recreate and facilitate trust between the public and their city leaders:

1.  The current and past city budgets should be posted on the city website for anyone to access.  Anyone should be able to see how much is spent and where, now and in the past.  Many cities around Illinois post their budgets online for public access and Effingham should be no different.

2.  Past resolutions and ordinances should be easier to access.  The current system requires downloading internet browser plug-in before anyone can access the archives via ImageSilo.  I propose converting future resolutions and ordinances into pdf files and have those files posted and available for download on a section of the city website.

3.  Each resolution or ordinance that will be discussed at future City Council meetings should also be converted to pdf and made available for download at the city website at least 3 days before a scheduled City Council meeting.

4.  Each member of the City Council, including the Mayor, should have their phone number and an email address posted on the city website so citizens can easily contact their representatives.

5.  The city should be required to post any new available municipal employment opportunities in the Effingham Daily News for at least 7 days prior to filling the position(s). 

Cutting waste is very important step in getting our city budget back into balance, but such cuts should not place the people of Effingham in the dark regarding the business of the city, the City Council, or the City Administrator.   

Thank you,

Brian T. Milleville

Candidate for Effingham City Commissioner

217-821-9306

anakrion76@hotmail.com