Some officials uneasy with new budget discussion approach
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) - Some Mason City City Council members have said they're uncomfortable with a new practice in which they meet behind closed doors for budget discussions.
Mayor Eric Bookmeyer implemented the approach this year, the Mason City Globe Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/15CLBBi ). It requires that the council split into two subcommittees to work privately without public access and without taking minutes. One subcommittee looks at the budget as a whole, and the other is considered an insurance subcommittee.
Budget discussions previously involved the entire council and were open to the public. Topics being discussed at subcommittee meetings this year include public policy issues, such as the possibility of laying off two sanitation workers to keep the sanitation department within budget guidelines.
Councilman Scott Tornquist said he doesn't like the process because it gives the public more reason to accuse the council of keeping residents in the dark when making decisions.
"I've been on the council for 10 years and for 10 years we've been accused of making decisions behind closed doors and for 10 years I've been saying that's not true," he said. "I can't say that anymore and I don't like it."
Councilwoman Jean Marinos said she wasn't aware that meetings would be closed until after the first one had started, but said there was nothing secret or sinister being discussed.
Tornquist said the new practice leaves half the council members out of significant recommendations being made and later asks them to vote on the recommendations without having been involved in the decision-making process.
Bookmeyer said Tuesday he's fine with subcommittee meetings being held behind closed doors and that the process is legal.
"Subcommittees do not have any direct power because there is no quorum of members," he said. "They can only recommend. Therefore there is no requirement to post them for the public."
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Information from: Globe Gazette, http://www.globegazette.com/