City determined to meet in secrecy

I?ve never accused McMinnville city government officials of making the best decisions so I?m not going to start now. But I firmly believe when elected officials conduct business, however foolish that business may be, it should be done in open meetings for all to hear.

If for no other reason this allows local residents to keep their city government jokes fresh. If McMinnville officials start holding all their discussions in secret that would really put a limit on our material.

But all joking aside, it?s a serious matter when elected officials decide they want to conduct official business ? which means official use of taxpayer dollars ? and do it hidden away from taxpayers. Even if city officials were gathering to discuss Bible verses, it still gives an appearance of wrongdoing when they meet secretly.

Think about it. If you say something in front of a group of people, it appears you have nothing to hide. If you walk over and whisper something in one person?s ear, it immediately raises suspicions. There?s no way around it.

McMinnville officials were voted into office to serve the people of this fine city and make it a better place to call home. They weren?t elected to serve their own best interests by sidestepping laws and arranging back-room deals. I don?t think too many local residents support that type of behavior.

The Sunshine Law is in place statewide for a reason. It?s a law that says what its name suggests, that official government business should be conducted in the sunlight, or in the open, for all to see.

As far as I know, there is no Backroom Law that pertains to government. I would think of something like a Backroom Law as related to the mob or other illegal activities and I don?t think McMinnville officials want to be associated with such things.

Besides, city officials simply aren?t good at meeting in secret and getting away with it. Now I?m not so foolish as to think the newspaper finds out every time city business is conducted behind the scenes, but we find out in a hurry on the big stuff.

It also helps that aldermen are poor actors. Last year?s Herb Llewellyn ouster was pulled off with all the grace of a Three Stooges routine.

I remember sitting in the meeting when Llewellyn?s resignation was announced. City officials went through the entire meeting, without Llewellyn present, and didn?t say a word. At the end, Mayor Royce Davenport asked if there was any other business to be brought before the board.

There was a long pause as aldermen looked at one another and it appeared Davenport was about to adjourn the meeting. Then, as if he had almost forgotten, Alderman Donald Hillis said he did have one more item to read to the board. It just happened to be Llewellyn?s resignation.

After knocking Llewellyn out, city officials are trying to work a secret coup to push David Rutherford into the job. What?s ironic is Rutherford might be the best candidate and the best fit for McMinnville.

If I recall correctly, city officials liked Rutherford during the first round of interviews. They just weren?t willing to yield to his salary demands. Several months later, Rutherford must have figured out a $75,000 salary isn?t that bad after all. He apparently wants the city administrator job now.

If McMinnville officials want to hire him, present the idea in open meetings and do it the right way. That?s what we elected them to do.

Instead they want to meet in private and develop an elaborate plan to sneak Rutherford into office. It?s precisely such actions that make people suspicious of government.

James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].