Council approves first read of open government ordinance

The Warren City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an open government ordinance at its March 14 regular meeting that seeks to bolster laws already in place via the Open Meetings and Freedom of Information acts.

The ordinance calls for city boards and commissions to make their agendas and meeting minutes available on the city website in one centralized area. Updated and accurate information about who is part of each body is also to be included in the same section.

Currently, meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the city’s web site but are not in one specific area which can make it difficult for residents to easily access information.

“We have all had problems getting access to certain things and this will help with transparency,” said council Secretary Mindy Moore. “Nobody knows who is on what commission or what they are doing or what money they are spending or what actions they are taking and this will bring some transparency to that process.”

The ordinance calls for the city clerk to create a centralized location on the municipal website to provide access to all meeting minutes, videos and audio recordings. Warren City Council, the zoning board of appeals, planning commission, and downtown development authority are required to video record their meetings. All other boards and commissions would be required to have audio recordings of their sessions.

Mayor James Fouts said he hopes the city council will follow its own open government ordinance and provide detailed backup material for all agenda items.

A board or commission can apply for an exemption from city council from the audio recording requirement if the board or commission acts in an advisory capacity only.

“I support this proposal because we need full transparency with all operations of city government and the residents and media should have free, easy access to public records,” said Council President Patrick Green. “Our goal is to have an effective date of July 1, 2023, which is the start of the new budget year.”

He said council will work to ensure there is money in the next fiscal year budget to implement the ordinance.

The council will consider the second reading of the ordinance at its regular meeting on March 28, 7 p.m. at the Warren Community Center.