I believe governmental transparency is a legitimate goal of good government.
Here are some examples of improved government transparency since 2019, under Mayor Dickey:
*All council and commission meetings are now livestreamed and digitally recorded, including regular and special meetings, study sessions and retreats. All must follow statutory guidelines for meeting management and are posted on the town website.
*All council and commission meeting minutes are now “verbatim,” using a specialized service retained to provide transcripts. All meeting minutes are available for approval at the next regularly scheduled meeting and posted on the town website.
*All votes are now roll-call votes to identify how every member votes.
*Communications are improved using the town website and quarterly household mailings, “Fountain Hills Insider.”
*A Community Relations director was added to increase outreach and town information.
*Public information meetings and surveying were added to inform and solicit ideas about town projects.
*Executive session are under the attorney's purview – only under very specific circumstances as required by law.
And Gerry Friedel recognizes the integrity of Mayor Dickey. Quoted from Fountain Hills Connection before Friedel was on council, “I attended the Town Council meeting last night and was surprised that the Daybreak general plan discussions were removed from the agenda. I think that our Mayor Ginny Dickey has the foresight to remove the item because the public had no opportunity to review the documents related to the discussion. This is something I think every resident wants in good government: transparency – and I think this is very important for all of us.”
BTW, Mayor Dickey responds to and/or forwards all resident correspondence and answered every request by media about the mayorol campaign; she never disparaged any other candidate.
Vote to re-elect Mayor Dickey; she has “foresight!”
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
