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TRANSPARENCY

(UPDATES: in parenthesis)

“If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.”

Louis D. Brandeis, US Supreme Court Associate Justice 1916-1939

Transparency and participation are the cornerstones for public oversight of government. Open government and public participation ensure that public policies are designed to be in the best interest of the citizens of Virgin, that public resources (your tax dollars) are used efficiently, and that the town’s elected officials and employees act in your interest and with integrity.  In order to ensure transparency, there needs to be sufficient notice provided about proposed actions and then a meaniful opportunity for citizens to participate and provide comments on all matters of significant public interest. Town government belongs to its citizens and not to the town officials. 

I will work to increase transparency, notice, and participation by: (below are some of my suggestions four years ago with updates in parenthesis)

  • increase notification of proposed zoning and planning projects and zone changes so landowners and neighbors know before, not after, the town acts.  (Better now than 4 years ago – still can be better)
  • require posting of property with signs to provide notice of zone changes and of major projects. The signs will allow citizens passing by the property and neighbors to know of the proposed zone change or major project. (Better now than 4 years ago – the town should require posting on affected property)
  • considering all public comment made at the planning board prior to making a decision. (Town needs to submit all public comment and submittals to Town Council before meeting on agenda item instead of relying on individual town council members to seek out the testimony)
  • introducing an ordinance to eliminate the newly created Level 1 Conditional Use Permits (CUP) which were intentionally designed not to provide any notice of the development to the public and designed not to allow any opportunity for the public to comment before the zoning administrator acts. (completed – there are no longer level 1 and level 2 CUP approvals although unfortunately we still must live with existing CUPs approved under this old process)
  • requesting that the town council consider allowing testimony and comment on all matters coming before the town council. (This procedure was written into the Town Council Rules of Procedure last year except for testimony made at planning board. The Town Council didn’t want individuals to skip commenting to Planning and Zoning hearings and thereby affecting its recommendations. )
  • introdude an ordinance to improve record request procedures. Record requests should be viewed as routine transactions between the town and the public, and not hoops to jump through to view a document. (Has gotten better, still more work needs to be done to make it more efficient)
  • working to resume broadcasting of Town Council meetings and Planning & Zoning Board meetings. (The Mayor made broadcasting of meetings happen in the first year of office)
  • this year, a constituent suggested that public comment also be allowed by zoom participants. I know there are pros and cons to this suggestion but I don’t see why we can’t make this happen. It would make town government more accessible.

(UPDATE: See post concerning salary ordinance click here.)

(UPDATE: See the three news articles concerning salary ordiance:

(UPDATE: See post concerning posting of DRC Notice click here. I proposed an ordianance to require meeting date of DRC meetings be posted. The Ordinance passed.)