Let the Light In

There has been the perception now and at previous times among some, that American Fork City officials alone or with others conduct back room deals, secret meetings and other illegal and/or inappropriate activity behind closed doors. I am not aware of such activity either before or during the time I have served on the city council. Utah Code Title 11-13-223 and 52-4-5 , et seq., the Open Meeting Law (commonly called the Sunshine Law), prohibits 3 or more elected officials meeting without proper notice of the meeting and without the public present except for specially exempt purposes set out in the attached, closed meetings.doc  I would be interested in knowing some specific instances where an illegal/bad faith meeting was held. There are times when a property owner or other interested party meets with 1 or 2 elected officials with or without staff to discuss sensitive matters such as property sales/acquisitions when perhaps an arterial road or other important issue is present. Oftentimes, the citizen/other party want their privacy and anonymity protected. Under these conditions, the spirit and letter of the law is observed. The important matter to be considered is that for the public, perception is reality. We can do the following to eliminate that perception.....

• educate and inform better.
• when appropriate, announce in a public meeting, if release of confidentiality is given of any results or progress of studies or meetings.
• complete staff work timely.
• reduce amendments to agenda as much as possible, and inform key people of any amendments, thus reducing the abovementioned perception.
• do not give the appearance of any impropriety, i.e. reducing or eliminating as best as possible, chance or social meetings.

City dealings should be as open and transparent as possible, protecting the integrity of the process and following both the letter and spirit of the Open Meetings Law. I will do what I can to make that happen. I would be interested in your comments.