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As a reporter, I am
dependent on the quality of my research. For example, before
interviewing a person, I do homework-- background research on that
person, their project, or the subject of our discussion. Before an
out-of-town politician arrives, I do homework. I research their issues,
their current projects and agendas, and other background information.
It keeps me
from looking like an idiot when I’m asking questions. It lets the person
I’m working with know I have already taken the time to find out the
basics so together we can move on to the details.
I also need
to know the rules. You know, rules for public meetings, rules for court
procedures, state laws, town ordinances. My work requires, “When in
doubt, look it up.” With the W.Va. State Code available on line, a copy
of town ordinances in my drawer, helpful legal officials across the
street, and the library less than a block away, there’s no reason why I
can’t find information I need.
Without
recorded history, rules and laws, there would be chaos. Without these
written documents, there would be no black and white in my
256-million-color world.
Thus brings
me to something that has been “stuck in my craw” for three years and now
three mayors . . . the town ordinance book.
Before I
continue, I want to be clear that I am not “attacking” our new mayor, or
hitting any past mayors. Each mayor I have worked with has strong points
and weak points. Each council has been the same. Mayor Wilbert Kerby
will accomplish things for the town I am sure, and also will fail in
some attempts, as is expected and typical of government.
As I watch
transitions of new councils, new mayors, vacant seats and replacements
within the town government, I can see that new people are learning and
are serving in an unfamiliar setting, and are in many ways unsure how or
where to begin. Frankly, in my humble opinion, I think each of them
should start with the bottom line of town government--the rules.
Over the past few
months, council has been discussing issues and procedures which have
already been “set in stone.” Financial compensation for unused sick
leave, lack of a juvenile curfew, the duties of the recorder--all these
decisions have already been made, and are now (or should be) established
procedure.
All these
policies are listed in the ordinance book, which includes rules for
administration, employee policies, building codes, elections, taxing,
zoning, public works and the police.
For more than a year
now, the ordinance book has been in some kind of “limbo.” Three years
ago, you could buy a $20 copy on Monday, and a $20 copy on Friday, and
get two different copies. Then, an attorney was hired and a committee
formed to “revamp” the ordinance book. The committee, including
Kevin
Postalwait,
Cheryl
Davis
and
Charlie
Whipkey,
met for the last time in November of last year.
Since then,
the ordinances have been in some kind of transitional state. This is not
good.
I’ve
discussed this frustration of mine with the former mayor, and with all
those on the ordinance committee. I can honestly say I don’t feel like
I’m hitting anybody involved “out of the blue” here. I’ve been stewing
about it in the meetings for about four months as council discusses
questions which, I feel, have already been answered.
Davis
herself asked about the ordinance book on Monday evening. The audience
and others were chatting about other things, and didn’t even hear her.
But I heard, and saw her attempt to get the process moving again, and
basically saw the issue put off, again.
I really think the time
has come to insist that council, recorder, new mayor--and whoever steps
into the vacant council seat--be given the instructions for their tasks
at hand. It is my greatest hope that our new mayor will see the
importance of knowing procedure, and policy--and that all those involved
have this knowledge as well.
It is my
humble request that this new administration address the issue of the
ordinances, especially before they make decisions to change any of them.
Grantsville
Town Ordinance Section 2-6 says, “The city council of this municipality
shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings, ordinances, orders,
bylaws, acts, resolutions, rules and regulations. They shall be indexed
and open to the general public of said municipality.”
Section 2-7
says, “The mayor shall see to it that all ordinances, orders, bylaws,
acts, resolutions, rules and regulations made by the city council are
faithfully executed.”
See, it’s
important to keep a good, solid set of rules.
Even the rules say so.
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