|
r
<br /> any uscr can enttr a search term and access relevant video one to co�nt up attendance of elected officials,"Solomon
<br /> cl�ps, supporiing documents and records of votes. says "Now reporters obtain that mformation simply by click-
<br /> ing on the name of any council member.The speed with
<br /> Gains for Governments and Citizens which the mformation is shared,and the level of detail provided,
<br /> By implement�ng tools designed to streamline these iypically is on a completely different level than before we implemented
<br /> rnanual processes,and by takmg advantage of popular commu- th�s software"
<br /> nicat�ons channels,governments can build closer,more trusi�ng Atlas Township, Mich., also has been usmg a fegislative
<br /> relationships with citizens while also reducing costs and leaving management solution since 2013 The system makes it easy
<br /> staf�w�th more time to focus on b�siness-crit�cal activities to assemble and email infon�ation packets to members of
<br /> Citizens and local busmess owners can more easily the board of trustees before meetings and create minutes,
<br /> obtain information about legislative activities.And beca�se says Townsh�p Clerk Tere Onica.'
<br /> it relies on the Intemet,this strategy can also help carry a Citizens also can view the packets, along with resolutions,
<br /> community's message far beyond its own�urisdiction When contracts and other docurnents related to agenda items,
<br /> public �nfon�nation and economic development officiais want thro�gh the township's website Once they receive th�s �nfor-
<br /> to convey a sense of the commun�ty's character,they can mation, citizens can, and often do, contact elected of ic�als
<br /> point business owners, developers, convention planners and to ask about agenda items, even before the meeting begins,
<br /> others to the public portal Onica says
<br /> Because the system�ndexes all the material it stores,Onica
<br /> A Goser View fmds it easy to respond to requests for archived documents
<br /> Here are two examples of communities that use legis- There's no need to root around in f�les;she quickly locates the
<br /> lat�ve management software and the Internel to increase requested documents in the system and prints them "It is always
<br /> transparency and trust better for the p�blic if I don't have to take extra time out of my day
<br /> Providence, R.I., �mplemented a legislative management to locate documents or charge them for their Freedom of Informa-
<br /> solution in late 2013 Among many other functions,the sofi- tion Act(FOIA)request,"she says Altematively,citizens can go to
<br /> ware allows the c�ty to upload dig�tal audio recordings of city the website to f�nd the documents themselves
<br /> counc�l comm�ttee meetings to a server �n the cloud. When people can get the information they want withoui
<br /> "1 hose recordings are always access�ble on our Open Meet- f�lling out a fon-n, pay�ng a fee and wa�tmg f�ve days,they gain
<br /> ings F'ortal w�thm a day after the meet�ng,and often nr�mediately more trust in their government,Onica says "People know you're
<br /> after,"says City Counal President Michael Solomon ' Users can not h�d�ng anyfh�ng when�t�s all out there where they can see it
<br /> access the portal via computer,tablet or mobile phone We are workmg towards making more information available and
<br /> Citizens interested m meetings s�gn up to receive the accessible for publ�c rev�ew'
<br /> same informat�on packets that go to elected city officials via C�t�zens today expect convenient access to government
<br /> email In print form,those packets would have been several By usmg the Internet and mobile technology to share
<br /> mches thick C�t�zens can visit the portal to access rn�nutes, information about legislative activities, a community opens
<br /> attendance and voUng records, and audio record�ngs its �nner workings for all c�t�zens to see.As that sense of
<br /> "In years past,o�r office had to compile dozens of sets of openness breeds trust, �t becomes a powerful force for
<br /> paper minutes for�o�rnalists who went thro.�gh thern one by prosperity and growth
<br /> Endnotes
<br /> , � , � . , , . . ,� , � � � „ � ,� �. , �
<br /> , i , , � � � � � � . � �, , . ��
<br /> Unde�wntt�;n by. ,, � ,. I .., , , 1 � � � . „ , � 1 � , � � �� •�i r,' -� I,; , I�;�i; r
<br /> _•il� � �� � , ,ii�, il -I�;�f ,� � � � , , " . _, _ii `�1� ii� ��j � •�; � �, �� �
<br /> l i 'i � � , , � � • �� I l i � ' � � i �
<br /> � Acce�a , .� , :. , -� � . , � . � : � � , -� �� :� .� , �� � -�
<br /> , . � _ , , ,, , .. .� , � �
<br /> . , � � , . ,. � . , � ,
<br /> «)2014 e RepubliC All rights reserved
<br />
|