Local law is generally developed to meet the needs, issues, and wants of a community at a certain point in time. The Town’s set of enforceable laws are codified from ordinances adopted by the Town Council and subsequently enforced by appointed staff, consultants, and even other agencies. However, times change, people change, the overbearing adopted laws of the State change. What was important 50 years ago, may not even be applicable today. In my view, a thorough review and modernization of our Codes is overdue. Additionally, the Town’s codes should be readily and conveniently accessible. We shouldn’t have to fill out a public records request and then be charged for a copy of our own laws. Add to this mix a Mayor and Town Clerk that clearly “have a problem” with transparent government – our own access to our own laws is restricted, questioned, and belittled by our own elected officials and appointed staff! One of my Platform issues is the task of a thorough code review and modernization together with an on-line (free) access to these local laws. Appointed and Elected officials have a legal responsibility to enforce and abide by the Town’s code and yet we currently have a Mayor that has consistently and pervasively petitioned the State for a more restrictive access to our public documents. The Washington Coalition for Open Government recently pointed to Mayor Snow as “the poster child” example of an official bent and intent on restricting our access to public documents! I want to be your “agent for change.”
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 14:28:13 +0000
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