Technology, Transparency, and Municipal Business

To the Editor,

Should municipal board members be subject to the Open Meeting Law?

At first glance, it seems beneficial to ensure transparency, especially for public officials.  But in practice, these laws can slow down practical problem-solving and inter-board cooperation.  These laws are meant to ensure transparency, but they sometimes restrict practical problem-solving that needs collaboration between other boards.

Now, with this antiquated procedure, the Board meets once a week, or a month to resume where they left off from the last meeting.  In my opinion, these rules to balance loose conversations with effective governance should be looked at very carefully, as these rules can, and do, slow a project's inertia considerably due to a system where individual departments are juggling many other projects or issues.  

If Boards worked together, one project at a time, in unison with each other seamlessly to finish the paperwork by feeding their expertise information into an artificial intelligence/AI machine that can spit out different scenario options, giving the Board a broader, faster, more informed, quicker decision.  Then, vote for the best course to take before submitting all completed paperwork to the government agency that makes the funding decisions.

Beating the competition vying for the same funds could be a deciding factor as to who gets available money for a project before the money dries up.  What’s happening 350 miles to the south is spreading financial uncertainty on a daily basis.  

This Town is loaded with talent that can volunteer to build a program to achieve cooperation, with transparency between boards and faster results.  I’m sure the various boards would find this method of operation a welcoming improvement as the final results are compiled immediately—working like a pit crew at the “Indy 500.”

If essential or mandated projects require money, it has to come from somewhere.  There were seven overrides at the last Town Meeting.  Taking advantage of the technology we have at our fingertips is not an option.  I’m sure the taxpayers would approve of driving down to Boston in the fast lane, with a packet proposal to beat the competition.    

Tom Grady

Manchester