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A modern, open council needs to air meetings

It comes as no surprise to anyone who is paying attention that Brooksville is changing dramatically.

The city's boundaries are expanding and so is its tax base. Several new subdivisions are expected to attract so many residents that the city's population of 7,200 will double in just a few years. The behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing is pervasive and out-of-towners, some representing commercial interests and others just looking for a bargain or to put down roots before the building boom peaks, are easy to find.

The decisions made by the City Council now, like many reached in the past few years, are more important than ever. Times are changing and, in less than a year, so will a majority of the council because three of its five members will be forced from office because of term limits.

But, before they go, they have an opportunity to raise the standard for open government by delivering council proceedings into the homes of a majority of their constituents.

The Brooksville council is the last elected government entity in Hernando County (unless you count the silly public-private hybrid municipality of Weeki Wachee) that does not videotape and broadcast its meetings. The council has informally discussed the possibility several times in the past few years, but has consistently pooh-poohed the idea because of fears that its members and residents would use the venue as an opportunity to grandstand and play to the camera. Some have pointed to the County Commission, with which the council's relationship often is acrimonious, as proof those concerns are well-placed.

It is time for the council to adjust both its attitude and its technology.

Any effort to better inform the public and make it easier for residents to participate in their government far outweighs any negatives even the most skeptical or camera-shy council member could conjure.

City residents should be able to see and hear their government in action. Being able to view the meetings provides them with not only a direct source of unembellished information about public issues, but it gives residents a better feel for the capabilities and personalities of their elected representatives. That is invaluable knowledge for voters who often rely on hearsay and tidbits scattered along the campaign trail to assess an incumbent.

Rick Foti, the industrious manager of Hernando County Government Broadcasting (Channel 19 on Bright House cable network), says he can videotape the council's bimonthly sessions and broadcast each one several times for about $2,000 a year. That cost is trifling compared to the benefit of allowing residents the convenience of watching from their homes how their taxes are spent. And, for those who do not subscribe to cable television, the availability of a videotape could be just as useful.

A better-informed public demands a more responsive government. By televising their meetings, council members can send a clear message to the people they serve that they are prepared to be more visible and contemporary as they oversee the city's evolution.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]