Sunshine Act amendment should be law

The Pennsylvania Legislature is considering a reform that shouldn’t be but sadly is necessary.

The measure would amend the Sunshine Act, requiring that school boards, township boards of supervisors, borough councils and other public agencies make their meeting agendas available to the public online at least 24 hours before a meeting and make copies of the agenda available to any attendee who would like one before the meeting starts.

The agenda would have to include all significant matters to be deliberated or decided at the meeting, and no significant matter not on the agenda could be decided except in the case of “an emergency involving a clear and present danger to life or property.”

This is not about making life difficult for officials. It is about making a public meeting truly public. Anyone who’s been to a meeting and heard officials referring to items on the agenda by a number and/or letter knows how frustrating that can be.

The Sunshine Act is meant to allow citizens to do more than just watch their public officials go through the motions. It should make what public officials discuss and decide at public meetings clear enough to citizens that they can participate by commenting if they wish to do so. And citizens should be given notice ahead of meetings at which important decisions will be made so they can attend them if they wish.

Lawmakers are right to work toward making public meetings more truly public. This measure should become law.

This is not about making life difficult for officials. It is about making a public meeting truly public. ”