……Now more than ever, transparency is vital to keeping citizens informed about what their governmental bodies are accomplishing or not accomplishing. Constituents are focused on keeping an eye on their taxpayer dollars and are want to make sure the days when important action was taken without citizens knowledge are in the past.
……..The Ethics Commission requires the agenda of a governmental meeting (City Councils, Board of Education and County Commissions are some of them) be posted 48-hours prior to the meeting. That requirement can be met by taping the agenda to the door. We, in Hancock County and in the media, are fortunate in how the majority of our governmental bodies go the extra mile to keep us informed. The Hancock County Board of Education has always sent the media the agenda in ample time to research any issue.
………Kudos to the Hancock County Commission in increasing their efforts to make the media aware of their upcoming actions. Prior to the most recent Commission meeting the agenda was posted on the door and when you went to the meeting you received the packet with the agenda and any corresponding material. Several days prior to last week’s meeting, the media received the agenda and supporting materials by e-mail. Enclosed in the packet was the information and agreement with Current Hydro, LLC. The item was tabled as the Commission was awaiting further information from the Assessor. The Commission is wise to provide all the supportive information to us because then, we in turn, can pass it on to the public.
……….The City of Chester also does a good job of including supportive material in its meeting packet. City Clerk Tara Ayers also provides the complete financials for the City and the Municipal building.
…….Sometimes you take three steps forward and one step back and I believe when it comes to transparency New Cumberland and Mayor Will White have taken a step back. The agenda is available as it should be on the door, but no supportive documents are included in the packet. White responds to calls, but fails to provide answers referring Hometown News to City Solicitor Kevin Pearl who does not respond to calls or e-mails.
…. As many of you know, the hydro plant is near and dear to my heart, I fought many years ago to make sure the legislation enabling New Cumberland to negotiate a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement was in place and that New Cumberland could annex the hydro plant area through a minor boundary change. I talked to the regulatory affairs director at Current Hydro, LLC and she said they have been working with the Commission, but have not heard from New Cumberland.
…….I have hit a brick wall when I tried to get information from the Mayor. When I provided Mayor White with the information I had and asked why New Cumberland had not begun work on the negotiations, he declined to answer and referred my questions to City Solicitor Kevin Pearl. I explained that Pearl does not return my calls. White said I had more information and Pearl would respond to me. Pearl did not respond to my phone nor my e-mail. I saw White a week after my attempt to contact Pearl and told him there had been no response. White had no response either.
……..Let me be clear. New Cumberland may not be dropping the ball, but their Council, the media and their residents need to get a status report. Pearl is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by Council and as such reports to them. If he is not responding to calls as directed then White needs to take action.
……..White is elected by the citizens, They are his boss and deserve a report on this very important issue. I would assume a Committee would be put together from the Finance Committee to negotiate with the Mayor and City Solicitor with Current Hydro, LLC, but according to White, Finance Committee did not meet this month.
…….The other governmental entities in this county are forthcoming in their efforts to inform the media and New Cumberland needs to take a lesson from them. People (and the media) are suspicious when they are not given the respect to have their questions answered. The buck stops at the Mayor’s office. White along with Council need to be laying out their plans and White needs to be up-to-date on what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. The hydro plant is a once in a lifetime boon to this City of 900 and the lack of response to questions is simply unacceptable. We deserve better.
