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OPINION A4 STANWOOD CAMANO NEWS SCNEWS.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 Guest editorial NEWS FILES Compiled by Carol Schmidt LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send address changes to the STANWOOD CAMANO NEWS, P.O. Box 999, Stanwood, WA 98292. USPS: 003026 STANWOOD CAMANO NEWS is delivered weekly by mail. Subscriptions cost: $33 per year or $58 for two years to Stanwood, Camano Island, Snohomish or Skagit counties; $38 per year or $68 for two years to Whid- bey Island, Whatcom, King, Pierce or San Juan coun- ties; $50 yearly or $90 for two years to elsewhere in the U.S.; $60 plus postage for outside the U.S. Direct line to extensions........................... 360-629-8066 Kathy Boyd, General Manager, Editor ............. Ext. 106 Sarah Arney, Staff Reporter ............................. Ext. 115 Jeremiah O’Hagan, Staff Reporter .................. Ext. 125 Carol Schmidt, Family & Friends Editor.................... Ext. 112 Evan Caldwell, Sports Writer Jennifer Baehm, Ad Rep ............................................ Ext. 108 Janae Brown, Ad Rep......................................... Ext. 111 Colleen Pearson, Graphics .................................Ext. 117 Rhonda Hundertmark, Graphic Artist ............... Ext. 123 Sharon Bartlett, Circulation, Legals.................. Ext. 109 Anita Hedahl, Front Desk ........................ 360-629-2155 Ruth Hoy, Phone Book Sales .............................Ext. 110 Roslyn Hoy, Phone Book Sales ........................ Ext. 126 FAX ...........................................................360-629-4211 © 2016 STANWOOD CAMANO NEWS www.scnews.com Volume 114, Issue 12 125th year est. 1891 Printed in Mount Vernon, WA 98273 STANWOOD CAMANO NEWS Election Shining the light for open government By BRIAN J. HUNHOFF ‘I think heroic deeds were all conceived in the open air’ The quote above is from Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” — a cheerful 1856 tribute to freedom and the great outdoors. Hopefully, Mr. Whitman would have approved use of his prose to promote open, well-aired government. It’s unlikely the great poet favored government secrecy and closed-door meetings. He also wrote, “Out of the dark confinement, out from behind the screen!” For today’s purposes, Whitman’s “screen” represents the executive session — a self-important term for a classic oxy- moron: closed public meeting. Too many elected boards seek every opportunity to meet out of sight of the public they serve. Some schedule execu- tive sessions as a regular agenda item. Some hold up to three executive sessions in a single meeting. Some have execu- tive sessions that last longer than the open portion of their meeting. In most cases, executive sessions do not violate open meeting laws. The closed-door discussions are often sug- gested or encouraged by an elected board’s legal counsel. But legality and necessity are two different things. Consider the following list our Fourth Estate counsel to county commissions, city councils and school boards every- where on executive sessions and general government open- ness. Citizens should hold their elected officials to the stan- dards below. These are Ten Commandments for Open Meet- ings: ONE: Do not gather as a quorum outside of regular meet- ings, and do not hold special meetings without giving at least 24 hours public notice. TWO: Do not habitually add last-minute items to the agenda, and do not act on anything not listed on the posted agenda. THREE: Do not abuse the litigation excuse for executive sessions to speculate about possible or imagined lawsuits. FOUR: Do not stretch the personnel excuse for execu- tive sessions to discuss policy issues. Example: Creating a new position or changing a department’s job descriptions are policy decisions and not appropriate topics for a closed meeting. FIVE: Do not dial up the “negotiations” excuse to sud- denly exclude the public from discussion of controversial issues that were previously aired thoroughly in open session. SIX: Do not allow executive session conversations to stray to other topics. SEVEN: Do not violate the spirit of the open meeting law with frequent phone, email or text dialogues with other members. Reach consensus at the meeting. EIGHT: Do not make a habit of whispering or passing notes at meetings. You were elected to speak for us. Tell what you have to say out loud and proud! NINE: Allow public input at every meeting. Include it on every agenda. TEN: Be as transparent as possible. Do not hold execu- tive sessions simply because counsel advised it is “legal” to do so. Ask yourself: “Is it absolutely critical we discuss this privately?” That should be the test because legality and necessity are two different things. We appreciate our local commissioners and board mem- bers. They serve for minimal compensation. They make tough decisions. They sometimes lose friends and make en- emies. Their dedication to community is admirable. We simply ask elected officials to think twice before kicking the public out of public meetings. Strive for fewer. Less is more. A closed meeting should be a rare occasion, not a habit. Brian Hunhoff writes for the Yankton County Observer in Yankton, South Dakota. His editorials about open govern- ment won the 2015 Freedom of Information award from the National Newspaper Association. Ten commandments for open meetings Editor’s note March 13-19 was Sunshine Week. The above edito- rial is meant to raise awareness of the standards citizens should expect from public representatives, not to target any particular group. — Kathy Boyd EARLY HISTORY Farming was going full blast on Camano in 1906. There was no driving on Commercial Street in Stanwood until it was repaired by the city. There was a meeting of the Good Roads Club in Peoples Union Hall. 100 YEARS AGO (1916) The Camano Island Band gave a concert in the hall. Work was progress- ing on the new trestle out at Birmingham (Warm Beach). “Charley’s Aunt,” a comic drama, was given at Silvana by local talent. 90 YEARS AGO (1926) The Bloom Bros. in Stanwood sold 10 cars this month. Rygg Bros. Cream- ery changed the name to Cream Rose Dairy Prod- ucts Co. The Depot Service Station put in a Godshalk visible gas pump. The Ivar Thomles entertained the General Consul of Oslo, Norway. E. A. Bjur opened a photographic gallery in place of John Wagness. 80 YEARS AGO (1936) About 300 people listened to Otto Case, state treasurer, on the Townsend Plan for old age security. The 1936 sugar beet growers contract was signed and a representative was at the Norman Load- ing Station one day. 70 YEARS AGO (1946) New direction signs to Everett and Mount Vernon were up at East Stanwood. Les Geisel moved his motor business from Main Street to a new building on an Utsaladdy beach site. The American Legion Post had 19 new members, all World War II veterans. A heavily-decorated war veteran, George Goss, returned to working at the family general store in Stanwood. 60 YEARS AGO (1956) Mrs. Johan Magelssen was one of five elected to the Island County school board. Beehives were to be registered with the county agent before April 1. Greasy Gremlin Tractor Club salvaged iron from the ruins of Twin City Grain Store. 50 YEARS AGO (1966) The go-ahead was given to the $200,000 addition to the elementary school. Postmaster Ray Brand- strom reported that rate increases were ahead in various categories of the postal service. There was a public hearing on the new sec- tion of Highway 1-Y (old highway from town to the freeway). 40 YEARS AGO (1976) Stanwood was one of 12 county schools competing in Scott’s Hi-Q contest. A class on cardiopul- monary resuscitation was held at Camano Chapel for senior citizens. The city tabled further discussion on the Fox Hill annexation. 30 YEARS AGO (1986) Young Author’s Day was held at Church Creek Elementary. War on drugs was proclaimed by the City of Stanwood, with 90 people attending a Town Meeting to brainstorm solutions. Hub Clothing Store had a grand opening (present site of Country Store). 20 YEARS AGO (1996) Landy Manuel was the new Stanwood City clerk- treasurer. A public meeting on schools and taxes was held at Camano Country Club Clubhouse. 10 YEARS AGO (2006) Meningitis was re- ported at Stanwood High School. Stanwood firefight- ers raised $11,000 with a pancake breakfast, to buy a thermal image camera for the department. Where have all the leaders gone? Dear Editor, As I have watched the process of the presidential campaigns over the months, my opinions have been con- firmed: We have no person running for president who has the ability to turn our country around to a more unified, kinder, less violent place to live and raise our families. I see an elitist, a socialist and a narcissist as the front- runners. I am so sick of both the Republican and Democrat parties getting even with each other and failing to work in the best interest of our country. Many of our congressio- nal leaders fail to lead by example. It seems money is involved in one way or an- other. I seriously doubt that Congress will ever have the discipline to bring about campaign reform. The big- gest betrayal to the Con- stitution and the American people in my lifetime was when the Supreme Court gave corporations the same ability to make campaign donations as individuals. How can our elected politi- cians govern fairly and ef- fectively when private in- dividuals and corporations throw hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars into election campaigns? As a people, our country, our culture and our priorities have been declining, due to a state of increasing moral decay. What we as a people are seeing in our govern- ment is what we deserve be- cause of our lower standards and expectations. Racism, violence and general despair of the work- ing class in our country is increasing. How many Americans feel safe in our schools, workplaces and communities? Some want to blame guns for the problems and avoid the real problem — us, as individuals, and how we deal with one another. Just look at our presidential cam- paigns: The courtesy and respect we shown to one an- other, or lack thereof. I am not seeing much unification by our current represented officials, just more splinter- ing and anger of the Ameri- can people. So how do we bring about change? First we must take a close look at ourselves. Are we kind and loving to our families? Do we lead by example in our homes? Are we ready to sacrifice for, teach and nurture our children? (This doesn’t mean giving them every- thing they think they want.) Are we fair and honest as employees or employers? If we want to flourish as a people, we must lead by example ourselves and have high standards and expecta- tions for our elected officials and public servants (govern- ment employees). Hopefully the current campaigning alarms you. It is representative of who we are and where we are going as a people. Many working class peo- ple are aware of the despair many Americans now feel. I have doubts that many of our elected officials care or actually understand the problem. Jon Lein Camano Island

Transcript of OpiniOn - Sunshine Weeksunshineweek.rcfp.org/wp-content/uploads/Stanwood... · OpiniOn A4 StanwOOd...

Page 1: OpiniOn - Sunshine Weeksunshineweek.rcfp.org/wp-content/uploads/Stanwood... · OpiniOn A4 StanwOOd CamanO newS scnews.com TUesDAY, mARcH 22, 2016 Guest editorial News Files Compiled

OpiniOnA4 ◆ StanwOOd CamanO newS ◆ scnews.com ◆ TUesDAY, mARcH 22, 2016

Guest editorial

News FilesCompiled by Carol Schmidt

letters to the editorSend address changes to the Stanwood Camano newS,

P.O. Box 999, Stanwood, WA 98292. USPS: 003026

Stanwood Camano newS is delivered weekly by mail.Subscriptions cost: $33 per year or $58 for two years to Stanwood, Camano Island, Snohomish or Skagit

counties; $38 per year or $68 for two years to Whid-bey Island, Whatcom, King, Pierce or San Juan coun-ties; $50 yearly or $90 for two years to elsewhere in

the U.S.; $60 plus postage for outside the U.S.

Direct line to extensions ........................... 360-629-8066Kathy Boyd, General Manager, Editor ............. Ext. 106Sarah Arney, Staff Reporter ............................. Ext. 115Jeremiah O’Hagan, Staff Reporter .................. Ext. 125 Carol Schmidt, Family & Friends Editor ....................Ext. 112Evan Caldwell, Sports WriterJennifer Baehm, Ad Rep ............................................Ext. 108Janae Brown, Ad Rep .........................................Ext. 111Colleen Pearson, Graphics .................................Ext. 117Rhonda Hundertmark, Graphic Artist ............... Ext. 123 Sharon Bartlett, Circulation, Legals .................. Ext. 109Anita Hedahl, Front Desk ........................ 360-629-2155Ruth Hoy, Phone Book Sales .............................Ext. 110Roslyn Hoy, Phone Book Sales ........................ Ext. 126FAX ...........................................................360-629-4211

© 2016 Stanwood Camano newSwww.scnews.com

Volume 114, Issue 12 125th year est. 1891Printed in Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Stanwood Camano newS

Election

Shining the light for open government

By BRIAn J. HUnHOFF ‘I think heroic deeds were all conceived in the open air’The quote above is from Walt Whitman’s “Song of the

Open Road” — a cheerful 1856 tribute to freedom and the great outdoors.

Hopefully, Mr. Whitman would have approved use of his prose to promote open, well-aired government. It’s unlikely the great poet favored government secrecy and closed-door meetings. He also wrote, “Out of the dark confinement, out from behind the screen!”

For today’s purposes, Whitman’s “screen” represents the executive session — a self-important term for a classic oxy-moron: closed public meeting.

Too many elected boards seek every opportunity to meet out of sight of the public they serve. Some schedule execu-tive sessions as a regular agenda item. Some hold up to three executive sessions in a single meeting. Some have execu-tive sessions that last longer than the open portion of their meeting.

In most cases, executive sessions do not violate open meeting laws. The closed-door discussions are often sug-gested or encouraged by an elected board’s legal counsel.

But legality and necessity are two different things.Consider the following list our Fourth Estate counsel to

county commissions, city councils and school boards every-where on executive sessions and general government open-ness.

Citizens should hold their elected officials to the stan-dards below. These are Ten Commandments for Open Meet-ings:

ONE: Do not gather as a quorum outside of regular meet-ings, and do not hold special meetings without giving at least 24 hours public notice.

TWO: Do not habitually add last-minute items to the agenda, and do not act on anything not listed on the posted agenda.

THREE: Do not abuse the litigation excuse for executive sessions to speculate about possible or imagined lawsuits.

FOUR: Do not stretch the personnel excuse for execu-tive sessions to discuss policy issues. Example: Creating a new position or changing a department’s job descriptions

are policy decisions and not appropriate topics for a closed meeting.

FIVE: Do not dial up the “negotiations” excuse to sud-denly exclude the public from discussion of controversial issues that were previously aired thoroughly in open session.

SIX: Do not allow executive session conversations to stray to other topics.

SEVEN: Do not violate the spirit of the open meeting law with frequent phone, email or text dialogues with other members. Reach consensus at the meeting.

EIGHT: Do not make a habit of whispering or passing notes at meetings. You were elected to speak for us. Tell what you have to say out loud and proud!

NINE: Allow public input at every meeting. Include it on every agenda.

TEN: Be as transparent as possible. Do not hold execu-tive sessions simply because counsel advised it is “legal” to do so. Ask yourself: “Is it absolutely critical we discuss this privately?”

That should be the test because legality and necessity are two different things.

We appreciate our local commissioners and board mem-bers. They serve for minimal compensation. They make tough decisions. They sometimes lose friends and make en-emies. Their dedication to community is admirable.

We simply ask elected officials to think twice before kicking the public out of public meetings.

Strive for fewer. Less is more. A closed meeting should be a rare occasion, not a habit.

Brian Hunhoff writes for the Yankton County Observer in Yankton, South Dakota. His editorials about open govern-ment won the 2015 Freedom of Information award from the National Newspaper Association.

Ten commandments for open meetings

Editor’s noteMarch 13-19 was Sunshine Week. The above edito-

rial is meant to raise awareness of the standards citizens should expect from public representatives, not to target any particular group. — Kathy Boyd

EARLY HISTORYFarming was going full

blast on Camano in 1906.There was no driving

on Commercial Street in Stanwood until it was repaired by the city.

There was a meeting of the Good Roads Club in Peoples Union Hall.

100 YEARS AGO (1916)The Camano Island

Band gave a concert in the hall.

Work was progress-ing on the new trestle out at Birmingham (Warm Beach).

“Charley’s Aunt,” a comic drama, was given at Silvana by local talent.

90 YEARS AGO (1926)The Bloom Bros. in

Stanwood sold 10 cars this month.

Rygg Bros. Cream-ery changed the name to Cream Rose Dairy Prod-ucts Co.

The Depot Service Station put in a Godshalk visible gas pump.

The Ivar Thomles entertained the General Consul of Oslo, norway.

E. A. Bjur opened a photographic gallery in place of John Wagness.

80 YEARS AGO (1936)About 300 people

listened to Otto Case, state treasurer, on the Townsend Plan for old age security.

The 1936 sugar beet growers contract was signed and a representative was at the norman Load-ing Station one day.

70 YEARS AGO (1946)new direction signs to

Everett and Mount Vernon were up at East Stanwood.

Les Geisel moved his motor business from Main Street to a new building on an Utsaladdy beach site.

The American Legion Post had 19 new members, all World War II veterans.

A heavily-decorated war veteran, George Goss, returned to working at the family general store in Stanwood.

60 YEARS AGO (1956)Mrs. Johan Magelssen

was one of five elected to the Island County school board.

Beehives were to be registered with the county agent before April 1.

Greasy Gremlin Tractor Club salvaged iron from the ruins of Twin City Grain Store.

50 YEARS AGO (1966)The go-ahead was

given to the $200,000 addition to the elementary school.

Postmaster Ray Brand-strom reported that rate increases were ahead in various categories of the postal service.

There was a public hearing on the new sec-tion of Highway 1-Y (old highway from town to the freeway).

40 YEARS AGO (1976)Stanwood was one

of 12 county schools competing in Scott’s Hi-Q contest.

A class on cardiopul-monary resuscitation was held at Camano Chapel for senior citizens.

The city tabled further discussion on the Fox Hill annexation.

30 YEARS AGO (1986)Young Author’s Day

was held at Church Creek Elementary.

War on drugs was proclaimed by the City of Stanwood, with 90 people attending a Town Meeting to brainstorm solutions.

Hub Clothing Store had a grand opening (present site of Country Store).

20 YEARS AGO (1996)Landy Manuel was the

new Stanwood City clerk-treasurer.

A public meeting on schools and taxes was held at Camano Country Club Clubhouse.

10 YEARS AGO (2006)Meningitis was re-

ported at Stanwood High School.

Stanwood firefight-ers raised $11,000 with a pancake breakfast, to buy a thermal image camera for the department.

Where have all the leaders gone?Dear Editor,

As I have watched the process of the presidential campaigns over the months, my opinions have been con-firmed: We have no person running for president who has the ability to turn our country around to a more unified, kinder, less violent place to live and raise our families.

I see an elitist, a socialist and a narcissist as the front-runners.

I am so sick of both the Republican and Democrat parties getting even with each other and failing to work in the best interest of our country.

Many of our congressio-

nal leaders fail to lead by example. It seems money is involved in one way or an-other.

I seriously doubt that Congress will ever have the discipline to bring about campaign reform. The big-gest betrayal to the Con-stitution and the American people in my lifetime was when the Supreme Court gave corporations the same ability to make campaign donations as individuals. How can our elected politi-cians govern fairly and ef-fectively when private in-dividuals and corporations throw hundreds, thousands or millions of dollars into election campaigns?

As a people, our country, our culture and our priorities have been declining, due to a state of increasing moral decay. What we as a people are seeing in our govern-ment is what we deserve be-

cause of our lower standards and expectations.

Racism, violence and general despair of the work-ing class in our country is increasing. How many Americans feel safe in our schools, workplaces and communities?

Some want to blame guns for the problems and avoid the real problem — us, as individuals, and how we deal with one another. Just look at our presidential cam-paigns: The courtesy and respect we shown to one an-other, or lack thereof. I am not seeing much unification by our current represented officials, just more splinter-ing and anger of the Ameri-can people.

So how do we bring about change? First we must take a close look at ourselves.

Are we kind and loving to our families? Do we lead by example in our homes?

Are we ready to sacrifice for, teach and nurture our children? (This doesn’t mean giving them every-thing they think they want.) Are we fair and honest as employees or employers?

If we want to flourish as a people, we must lead by example ourselves and have high standards and expecta-tions for our elected officials and public servants (govern-ment employees).

Hopefully the current campaigning alarms you. It is representative of who we are and where we are going as a people.

Many working class peo-ple are aware of the despair many Americans now feel. I have doubts that many of our elected officials care or actually understand the problem.

Jon LeinCamano Island