Has Richmond City Council really improved since the days of incarcerated councilpeople, backroom tax hike deals and PayGo scandals — do the people at City Hall truly want open and honest government?
We’ll get a big clue tonight.
Ellen Robertson, the councilperson for the 6th district, has introduced an ordinance that essentially makes all of the city’s various advisory “citizen committees” open and accountable to taxpapers.
Ord. No. 2006-157 (Patron: Mrs. Robertson) — To amend *** the *** Code *** to provide for rules governing advisory committees to require that such *** committees *** be open to the public *** post meeting notices *** record written minutes *** and report annually *** to *** the council ***.
Ellen Robertson’s record on transparency is decidedly mixed, no doubt, but her ordinance is a sound and common-sense move. How will your city councilperson vote?