| Speak
Up, Speak Out |
| Herndon Vice Mayor Dennis Husch has criticized me in other
forums for my column June 22 about the town’s new policy regarding
requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| In that column, I noted that the town’s policy was in line
with the policies of the state law and of other town jurisdictions
in our area, and I suggested that the town question why it
has received an increase in FOIA requests by reconsidering
how often and why closed meetings are held. |
| The agenda for this Tuesday night’s Town Council work session,
for example, featured 16 individual items for public discussion.
Three regarded presentations to be made at the upcoming public
hearing, four regarded scheduled hearings, four were for general
business and five were discussion items involving the town
staff. |
| Outside of that agenda, the Town Council was scheduled to
meet in closed session to discuss four items away from the
public, with closed sessions scheduled for one item before
the public meeting and for three more after the public proceedings
had ended. |
| Four in 20 items on this week’s agenda were to be discussed
in closed session. That’s 20 percent of the Town Council’s
work taking place behind closed doors. |
| While the FOIA law provides ample opportunity for a government
to meet in closed session when warranted, the town should
use the option judiciously and always choose to take the route
that will keep its work in the public eye wherever possible. |
| This brings up an important point to bear in mind as we
celebrate the Fourth of July this week. One of the most fundamental
strengths of our nation is the people’s ability, and civic
duty, to be critical of our leaders. |
| In a time when speaking out against the majority about the
war in Iraq, the Bush administration, immigration, day labor
workers and other issues is seen by some as being unpatriotic,
now is the most important time for citizens to speak up and
speak out. |
