The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Look closely, and you can see right through transparency committee

An editorial by The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
Feb. 28 -- On the surface of it, the Allegany County commissioners' decision to approve a committee that will help identify issues and resolutions to achieve greater government transparency is a good one.

Digging deeper, however, reveals how this could this merely be another job of side-stepping by the elected commissioners.

Cumberland resident Marc Nelson is to be commended on his continued pursuit for a more open, communicative government. But PhDispatch.com wonders if he honestly believes any good will come of it, or whether such a committee will simply provide the commissioners the appearance of propriety.

An open and honest government isn't that difficult to achieve. And while commissioners Michael McKay, commission president, and Bill Valentine hit the campaign trail hard on promises of increased public involvement and two-way communication between elected county officeholders and staff with residents, this is one path they could find all by themselves. And, if they couldn't, perhaps they could follow their staff attorney - either one of them - or any member of their well-paid senior management team.

All three commissioners recently attended the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference. On the taxpayers' collective dime, the commissioners took several informational courses in learning, among other things, what are and are not public records and public information.

President Harry S. Truman had a sign on his desk that read, "the buck stops here."

In Allegany County, "here" is defined as the commissioners' desk. In this instance, the commissioners should be chided for passing the buck to a committee that very well could lack any meaningful authority.

Members of this committee might be able to provide helpful information, but it's highly probable they won't say anything the commissioners don't already know - or should know.

The commissioners took office more than two months ago. They've had time to acclimate themselves to the duties and obligations - and restrictions - of public office.

McKay has said, time and again, "give us six months" and then grade the commissioners. On the controversy surrounding the Bureau of Police and Sheriff's Office, the PhDispatch.com feels they are entitled to six months. Probably more.

Sure, take a few months - or more - to meet with the public and come to the best possible solution towards repaying the debt for the Georges Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant project.

On the issue of helping to guide the county-owned animal shelter towards a responsible, effective path, they can have six months. Maybe more.

But open government? Either you're for it or you're not. The formation of any committee simply can't be proactive - instead, it will be only reactive in nature to any action the county commissioners might take, and then recommend ways that action could have been handled better.

The formation of this committee is akin to asking someone to file a Public Information Act request. What the commissioners seem to be saying is, "ask your question, and we'll get back to you sometime."

PhDispatch.com feels the three commissioners were elected into office because voters wanted change to the way in which their local government operated. This song and dance seems the same dance of the previous set of commissioners, just a different tune.