Editorial Commentary:
We went to the Vermilion Township Trustee Meeting. They went into executive session at 6:47 pm and did job interviews that lasted past 8 pm. I left about 40 minutes in, knowing another person was streaming live on Facebook. I had another meeting to cover across town.
I have no problem with this function of Executive Session. What I do have a problem with a lack of common sense that decided not to use it at the end of the meeting, especially since they knew it was going to be a lengthy one. Also no courtesy warning, this could be awhile, like longer than a reasonable person would expect, was given. Especially given the amount of elderly people attending the meeting.
One person was there to livestream the event and I was also there to get you the news quicker and as unfiltered as possible. The live streaming person had to leave too. All it took was a marathon Executive Session to keep the public in the dark again. Why is the Public Participating such a problem? Why is it so hard to get unfiltered video and audio to the people… so they can be informed and make the best decisions?
I also have a problem with the lack of empathy displayed by having our elderly wait over an hour to speak publicly and witness Township business. Some of them got there as early as 6pm to get a seat. Oh well, that’s local government am I right?
These kinds of actions always seem to favor the Municipality, while alienating the public. This from the same body that has tried to limit or censor public participation in the past, more than once. It’s getting old. Womp. Womp. One step forward. Two steps back it seems.
Enjoy the agenda and/or you can read the handpicked account in a week, or their minutes next month. Seems in the day and age of everyone having a camera and microphone in their hands, it’s becoming harder and harder for the public to get unfiltered information and to be heard.
