A change took place in the County Commission meetings so small that I didn’t take note until I began to miss the supportive details I needed.
Under all Commissions I have covered in 13 years a packet was provided the media. It included the agenda and all the supportive documents and usually ranged from 15 to 20 pages. That was not only good government, that was smart government. No more misspelled names or incorrect budget figures.. The facts were right there. If an organization requested money, the letter was right there along with the reason and amount requested.
(A kudos I have to give at this point. The City of Chester provides a complete packet at every meeting. This small community not only gives you the minutes -and has them read outloud before they are provided – they provide the financial report for the month. This small community is running government as it should be and while I may be a voice in the wilderness, I shout “good job!”)
No, more! I attributed the lack of information at first to the frequent turnover of administrative assistants. Administrator John Klee was often tasked with the job. After Friday’s meeting County Clerk Karan Valenti offered to share her packet with another reporter and me. It was an additional 11 pages.
I learned what I should have known if the packet had been presented to us. I am asking the Commissioners why the practice of providing us with this information was halted.
**Under correspondence the two-sheet agenda stated “Consideration to make a matter of record the Chester, WV Police Dept’s establishing a K-9 program.” Well, that’s not exactly what the letter in the packet said. Sure, it explained the K-9 program, but the purpose was to ask for donations for the program, even gift cards for dog food. It listed both Amy Six and Susan Hinerman as people to contact to give donations. The description in the two-sheet presumed the item was a “matter of record” which means no money. Can they do that?
**The resume of Kacie Greenlief, who runs the sensory program at the Mary Weir Library, and applied for the park board. The commission went silent when the item was brought up meaning the appointment died for lack of consideration. I have not seen that happen before. Why did it happen at this meeting?
**The financial report for the month is in the packet. That’s a real need to know if you are paying $275.00/hour for an attorney and $55,000.00 per annum for the services of the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
**In/out report from the Animal Shelter. At one time we printed that.
**And of course, the newly written resolution to adhere to Robert’s Rules. That, know that I have, I will print in it’s entirety.
Because those are your tax dollars and the media needs to know what you need to know. We need ALL the information.
