HomeMy WebLinkAbout031023 PUBLIC COMMENT_ Sunshine Week proclamation________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
Commissioners,
Thank you for again acknowledging the annual recognition of Sunshine Week and for your commitment to the principles of Open Government.
“Open government is good government or, at the very least, it is better government.” (News Leaders Association.)
I suggest the following minor edits to the proclamation to bring it up to date with actual practice and to reflect the current state of emergency re: COVID.
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners ( BoCC) is committed to openness and transparency in all aspects of county government and seeks to set a high standard in this regard;
and
WHEREAS, in compliance with the Governor' s Proclamation 20-28 dated March 16, 2020,
Jefferson County will conduct all public meetings subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter
42. 30 RCW, via teleconferencing and/ or video conferencing.
WHEREAS, Jefferson County intendsexpects to hold all open public meetings in a hybridvirtual format whenever practicable to allow for greater accessibility for the public, and will allow
for in-person attendance as physical space and health and safety protocols allow.
[SUNSHINE WEEK]
Aand during this Sunshine Week and throughout the year, the BoCC commits to continuing to enhance the public' s access to government records and information, to increase information
provided electronically and online, and to ensure that all meetings of deliberative bodies under its jurisdiction, and their committees, are fully noticed and open to the public.; and
w
We encourage all people to join us in observing the importance of transparency and openness in a free society.
Thank you,
Tom Thiersch
Member, Washington Coalition for Open Government <https://www.washcog.org/>
==== [RCW 42.30.010 Open Public Meetings Act <https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=42.30&full=true> ] ==== ==== [RCW 42.56.030 Public Records Act <https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?ci
te=42.56&full=true> ] ====
"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what
is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed and informing the people's public servants of their views so that they
may maintain control over the instruments that they have created."
###
P SAVE PAPER - Please do not print this e-mail unless absolutely necessary.