County Council discusses removing cameras from budget meeting . . .
Day one of the Hamilton County Council budget hearings began not much differently than most.
Department heads presented their budgets, not many deviated from instructions provided to them by Auditor Robin Mills, and council members asked relatively few questions.
“Pretty smooth,” is how Council President Steve Schwartz described the day; however, if you watched today’s hearing on Hamilton County Television you might have agreed with Schwartz, until the end.
Following presentations made by department heads, Councilman Fred Glynn addressed the other members stating, “We should discuss the camera situation, I do not think it is necessary to have that during deliberations tomorrow.”
Hamilton County Television was contracted by the county commissioners to live broadcast the budget hearings.
Councilman Brad Beaver said, “I’m fine with all the departments that are going to present their budgets, but at that point we’re done with the camera.”
Councilman Jeff Hern asked if budget deliberations were public meetings. Beaver interrupted Hern, saying, “If you want to walk into the room, it is not an executive session.”
Beaver continued: “We are talking about people, salaries. It is not executive session, but I don’t think it should be on the internet.”
“If somebody wants to see that stuff they are free to walk through the front door and sit here in the audience,” said Glynn.
That is when Councilwoman Amy Massillamany made a motion that once department heads have completed their presentations at 10 a.m., the live broadcast and television recording should not continue. Beaver seconded the motion.
Schwartz cautioned council members about the legality of removing cameras from a public meeting.
Massillamany withdrew her motion and Beaver withdrew his second after Councilmen Rick McKinney and Paul Ayers gave their opinions.
“I’m in this situation of not wanting to be accused of not being transparent. We’ve already said close the barn door, the cows are out. I think the issue is, who controls it, us or the commissioners. I honestly can’t vote to shut it off,” said McKinney.
Ayers said, “It would be a mistake. I don’t care if they are here or not. It would be a mistake at this point to shut them off.”
“I just don’t like it,” said Beaver. “I don’t like it at all.”
The council resumes budget hearings at 8 a.m. today. Hamilton County Television will be present. The live broadcast can be viewed at HamiltonCountyTV.com.
Are you kidding me?! I am ashamed that any politician would move to restrict access and transparency for their constituents. That our county council members would be worried about their discussions being made public is deeply concerning to me, and it should be to you as well.
Mr. Beaver and Mr. Glynn would do themselves a great service by understanding that it is extremely difficult for many people to take a day off of work to physically show up to these budget discussions. They need to realize that most Hamilton County residents are not paid $30,000 a year to have a monthly meeting or two.
It is important to realize that the only reason this motion did not move forward is because the members were not sure whether they had to the authority to do so. I know one thing for sure, and that is that YOU and I have the authority to vote these people out of office in November.
More transparency, not less. It’s not that difficult.
Another example of one party rule
The politics in Hamilton County have become very disgusting. We need someone to drain the swamp!