The Observation Deck

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

In July of 2010, the Lakewood Observer, staff and lawyers produced a document and sent it off to Lakewood City Hall, Lakewood Schools, and Lakewood Public Library.

To date only James Crawford of the Lakewood Library, Jeff Endress from the Library and Matt Markling from the School Board ever sent back a signed copy.

A Joke, read it, and think where we are today, and when did the sell off of the hospital start? 2010!

A Promise of Transparency and Accountability to the Citizens of Lakewood

The Lakewood Observer Transparency and Accountability Project 2010

Whereas, the mission of the Lakewood Observer is to attract, articulate, and amplify civic intelligence and community good will in the City of Lakewood through an open and unbiased ensemble of white papers for mapping community solutions, advancing responsible economic development and sustainability strategies, and tracking results;

Whereas, our system of democracy is founded upon the principles of both transparency and accountability;

Whereas, the Open Meetings Act requires that public bodies in the City of Lakewood conduct all public business in open meetings that the Citizens of Lakewood may attend and observe;

Whereas, the Ohio Public Records Act mandates that public records in the City of Lakewood are the public’s records and that the officials in whose custody they happen to be are merely trustees for the Citizens of Lakewood;

Whereas, the Open Meetings and Records Acts are jointly known as the Ohio Sunshine Laws;

Whereas, the Ohio Sunshine Laws are to be liberally interpreted in favor of open meetings and records disclosure;

Whereas, neither the mission of the Lakewood Observer nor the principles of democracy can be fully satisfied without a liberal interpretation of the Ohio Sunshine Laws by every public body and official in the City of Lakewood; and

Whereas, the Lakewood Observer hereby calls upon the Mayor of Lakewood, the Finance Director, and Lakewood City Council; the Lakewood City School District Superintendent, Treasurer, and Board of Education; and the Lakewood Public Library Director, Clerk-Treasurer, and Board of Trustees to promise transparency and accountability to the Citizens of Lakewood through a liberal interpretation of the Ohio Sunshine Laws.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Lakewood Public Library Director, Clerk-Treasurer, and Board of Trustees hereby promise transparency and accountability to the Citizens of Lakewood through a liberal interpretation of the Ohio Sunshine Laws on this the ______ day of August 2010.

Lakewood City Hall
Ed FitzGerald, Mayor
Jennifer Pae, Finance Director
Kevin Butler, President
Mary Louise Madigan, Vice-President
Thomas Bullock, Councilperson
Michael Summers, Councilperson
Nickie J. Antonio, Councilperson
Brian E. Powers, Councilperson

Lakewood Schools
Dr. P. Joseph Madak, Superintendent
Richard Berdine, Treasurer
Betsy Bergen Shaughnessy, President
Matthew John Markling, Vice-President, signed and returned
Linda Beebe, Board Member
Edward Favre, Board Member
John Kamkutis, Board Member

Lakewood Public Library
James Crawford, Director, signed and returned
Tim Laskey, Clerk-Treasurer
Nancy Seibert, President
Christopher Johnson, Vice-President
Scott W. Kermode, Secretary
Paul Dimmick, Trustee
Jeffrey C. Endress, Trustee, signed and returned
Suzanne Metelko, Trustee
Mary Louise Nixon, Trustee

.

Mr. O'Bryan: Clearly, you were and are ahead of the curve on all of this. I did not know you then. I was unaware of this initiative. Bravo! for your effort.

The shabby open meeting violations and the equally shabby public record laws violations have sparked serious lawsuits. More will likely follow. Bravo! to Mr. Essi. Bravo! to Hon. Skindell. Bravo! to all of the lawyers that have taken on the city administration in court on these and other issues.

There is a growing sense of disaffection with respect to the incompetent, unethical and perhaps illegal conduct of our local public officials, particularly those involved in the hospital debacle.

They could have proceeded down a path of competence, accountability, honesty and transparency. They chose not to. Other communities are locations for new hospital facilities; our community is not.

Best of luck to you and all the folks at the Lakewood Observer. Keep up the good work.

Is the Lakewood Observer still banned at city hall?

Why?

Is the Lakewood Observer still banned at city hall?

Why?

Our city government must control the message at city hall. Disgruntled people should be quiet or find another outlet.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So it's a lucky thing that our city government is not Congress, because then we would have some of those nasty first ammendment issues.

Our city government knows what's best for citizens.