Do We Have To Provide Information To The Public?
When Lackawanna resident Faith Gordon requested that the Lackawanna City Council post full agendas of Council meetings on-line the response she received from Councilman Francis J. Kulczyk, as reported in theBuffalo News was:
“Why do we have to put it on the website? I don’t understand,” said 3rd Ward Councilman Francis J. Kulczyk. “Do we have to do it? Who else does it?”
To their credit several area municipalities such as Buffalo and Hamburg post full agendas of meetings, including memos and other supporting documents for resolutions, ordinances or other matters up for consideration on the Internet. Most communities like Lackawanna post a summarized agenda on line before the meeting, which provides a bare minimum of information to the public.
The public should have access to the complete packet of information that is being presented to their elected representatives for approval. As Ms. Gordon states “Is it so much work for one person in City Hall to post this information on our website?” With technology today all one has to do when copying the complete Council agenda is scan the documents and post them on-line. It really is not a difficult task, yet not one of the five Council members spoke up in favor of providing the public full access to the Council’s proceedings.
Lackawanna resident John Ingram summed the issue up well by stating “This has to change. It doesn’t matter if you have to do it, it’s the right thing to do. “We need information on the website so we can look it up and come to these meetings and ask you questions. It’s not wrong to want that information.”
What do you think about Faith Gordon’s request and the response she received from Lackawanna Council members?
The definition of reinvent is:to replace with an entirely new version, to make over completely, to recast something familiar or old into a different form.In my opinion we need to reinvent government, business and ourselves. Today’s world is about constant change driven by the power of new ideas.For the past 17 years as an attorney, I have worked in government at the county, city, authority and school district level in the Buffalo, NY area. I have seen first hand the need for reinventing how government operates. For a period of four years, I served as Chief of Staff to the 9 member City of Buffalo Common Council. Government must engage the talents and skills of its citizens by becoming more collaborative and transparent in its decision-making and operations. Utilizing technology as a tool to engage citizens is something all governments need to explore.I have great respect for entrepreneurs as they put their passion into a vision, which results in new products, new services and new jobs. Entrepreneurs are on the front lines of change. As an adjunct college instructor, I see how students and everyone for that matter must continually change and reinvent themselves to survive and be successful in today’s crazy world economy.Some of my favorite change agent writers are Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Gary Hamel and Guy Kawasaki. I welcome the opportunity to meet new people, to further my own learning and to share ideas.On a personal note I am 47 years old, my other half Cheryl is an attorney in private practice and together we have three children, Michael age 20 and Joseph age 14 and our newest shock of an addition Julia, born 11/2/11. 
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Mr. Ingram hit the nail on the head and is absolutely correct. If the Council does not do the right thing and will only do what is required then the citizens will have to make it required by amending the city charter which they can do by petition and referendum. The next vote should be against those on the council who are against this.
A simple request met with an ignorant response. If Mr. Kulczyk had an employee who refused to do more than the absolute minimum, how long would he keep that employee? Mr. Collins cut several programs that he felt were above the minimum requirements. He was freed up to pursue other employment.
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