Showing posts with label #Economic Development Authority. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Economic Development Authority. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Gloucester Economic Development Authority Transparency

We The People have noticed some positives changes in transparency of certain areas of Gloucester County’s government. This year’s 2014 Board of Supervisor’s budget work sessions were broadcast on television and on the internet for the first time. Minutes from the work sessions were more detailed than they ever were previously. This type of openness in government is very important to the People and Citizens of Gloucester.
 
There are still areas in need of improvement; one of which is transparency of the Gloucester Economic Development Authority. The Gloucester Mathews Gazette Journal article on the most recent joint meeting of the GEDA and the Board of Supervisors contained more details of the meeting than the meeting’s minutes entered into public record. Certain GEDA board members have publicly claimed the GEDA operates under the radar. None of this is acceptable. § 2.2-3700 of the Code of Virginia reads as follows:

A. This chapter may be cited as "The Virginia Freedom of Information Act."

B. By enacting this chapter, the General Assembly ensures the people of the Commonwealth ready access to public records in the custody of a public body or its officers and employees, and free entry to meetings of public bodies wherein the business of the people is being conducted. The affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government. Unless a public body or its officers or employees specifically elect to exercise an exemption provided by this chapter or any other statute, every meeting shall be open to the public and all public records shall be available for inspection and copying upon request. All public records and meetings shall be presumed open, unless an exemption is properly invoked.

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to promote an increased awareness by all persons of governmental activities and afford every opportunity to citizens to witness the operations of government. Any exemption from public access to records or meetings shall be narrowly construed and no record shall be withheld or meeting closed to the public unless specifically made exempt pursuant to this chapter or other specific provision of law. This chapter shall not be construed to discourage the free discussion by government officials or employees of public matters with the citizens of the Commonwealth.

All public bodies and their officers and employees shall make reasonable efforts to reach an agreement with a requester concerning the production of the records requested.

Any ordinance adopted by a local governing body that conflicts with the provisions of this chapter shall be void.

As we see, Virginia law says; “The affairs of government are not intended to be conducted in an atmosphere of secrecy since at all times the public is to be the beneficiary of any action taken at any level of government.” Transparency of the GEDA certainly does not meet this burden. Therefore, We The People request all GEDA meetings be broadcast on television and on the internet.
 
We The People


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