Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, many local governments have changed the procedures with how their meetings are conducted. Teleconferencing, Zoom, and other forms of technology are being used now in various ways. Eugene Carl Haberman, an expert on the Open Meetings Law and Public Process, has been attending and…
Posts published in “Ethics & Transparency”
Here are a dozen suggestions for improving the Mat-Su Borough Government. These proposals concern transparency, efficiency and cost savings. It is budget season and we are facing shortfalls. We can no longer waste money. We need to pay for essential services. Also, the residents of the Valley deserve a more…
Summary: The Fish Creek Access Project is all about resource development. It is connected to the MSB’s ongoing but failed efforts to monetize the Port and Rail Spur and the State’s Road to Resources plans. The Fish Creek project is not really about “public access” to the northern one third…
An Informational Memorandum IM 19-097 (with attachments) informing the Assembly of an FY2017 contract (Contract #17-011P) that the MSB signed (in December 2016) with (then sitting) Assembly Member Stephen Colligan for IT consulting services is on the agenda of the upcoming May 21st Assembly meeting. IM 19-097 Better late than…
It is often helpful to look to other communities to find out how their local governments are functioning. How do other governments do things? Is our local gov’t doing the best job it could be doing? Let’s take Blaine, Minnesota for example. It is a medium-sized city with a population…
The MSB has released the previously confidential Manager’s Memos pursuant to a Public Records Request. There are a total of 34 memos. The format is – a few pages of updates from the Manager – followed by many pages of attachments. The memos are all marked “Not for Distribution.” Memo…
The MSB has a new section of its website titled “Transparency.” However, a close examination shows that this section is akin to a “Non-Apology Apology.” I.e., it only pretends to be transparent. Here is the new section: It has new nifty bar graphs. Click on any section and see if…
This memo from the MSB Manager to the MSB Mayor (and distributed to all Assembly members) was discussed at last night’s Assembly meeting in closing comments by Dan Mayfield. It was NOT included in the meeting packet. However, I was able to obtain a copy.
A MSB Assembly Special Meeting meeting took place on August 30, 2016 (the Tuesday just before the Labor Day weekend.) This meeting was mysterious. The entire meeting was conducted in Executive Session. The minutes note that the closed door session was necessary to discuss, “The ONGOING review of the Operation…
Here is an astute observation from a “Borough Budget Watch” participant about the MSB’s overall lack of transparency and the “behind the scenes” maneuvers of the Manager, Attorney, and Mayor etc: