New Year, New Board Meeting Format

For those who attended the Board of Supervisors reorganization meeting in early January, things might have seemed a little different than previous meetings.

That's because the new chairman, Frank Rothermel, said he wants to make the local government as "open, honest and responsive as possible."

One of the ways Rothermel tries to do this is have all the bill lists, monthly audit reports, pension committee meeting minutes and the annual budget documents posted online. He said this allows residents to see exactly where their tax dollars are going and invites them to check the math.

"If everyone in the public is watching, then no secret deals are possible and everything stays on the up and up," he said. "If they have good ideas as to how to save money, streamline our regulations, do government better and more public-friendly, that’s all good for everybody."

Along the those lines, the new system should include video playback immediately available through the township website and they should also be indexed by different points in the meeting. 

In addition to some of the more in-demand meetings, the Water and Sewer meetings will be included in the list of those on playback on the Municipal Access Channel and online.

"I think [it] ... will force them to honestly review, evaluate, discuss and decide the myriad issues that the sewer board confronts with its $11 million budget," he said.

Another major change is the amount of public comment. Previously, there had been one session at the beginning of the meeting. Rothermel said at the reorganization meeting that he wants to have it at the beginning, the end and before every major board decision.

"Our citizens are a treasure of smart, gifted, compassionate and often eager-to-help individuals," he said. 

Questions raised during public comment will be answered because it "encourages a two-way dialogue." If someone asks it during a meeting, someone at home might have the same question, he said.

The board works for the voters and therefore owes them an explanation for every board vote and decision, Rothermel said. 

The next meeting is 7:30 tonight in the .