A group of six McLean County Board members has asked for formal consideration of initiatives they claim would enhance transparency and public involvement in county government.
Signees of a letter to the board include Carlo Robustelli, Chuck Erickson, Josh Barnett, Victoria Harris, Katherine Metsker, and Erik Rankin.
As a matter of disclosure, Carlo Robustelli is an employee of WGLT.Among the ideas, Josh Barnett says, is a change in the requirements for the public to address the County Board.
"To be able to give five days notice to speak on an item that may not be on the agenda when the agenda is not posted until three days before the meeting; there's just something not right about that," said Barnett.
Another potential change is the idea of holding evening meetings instead of holding the monthly business at nine a.m. Close to twenty years ago, the board tested the idea for several months and discontinued it because no new people turned up. But, board member Josh Barnett says three months may not be a fair test and that experience may no longer be relevant anyway.
"If you think about it, the early two thousands or the late nineties was a different time. That was pre 9-11. No one had an I-Phone at that time. Technology was not as available as it is now. Really, it begs the question why this has not been considered again," said Barnett.
Other items for discussion to boost public involvement in local government, transparency, and public education include, streaming board meetings, and enhanced use of social media.
The Rules Committee of the board will take up those issues.
