Editorial from the Londonderry Times
6/5/2024
Before beginning a discussion of ethics in municipal government, we must understand what ethics entails. The definition of ethics according to Merriam Webster is: “The discipline dealing with what is good and bad; a set of moral principles or values, the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group, a guiding philosophy based simply upon right and wrong.”
The public rightfully expects its public and elected officials to conduct themselves with honesty, respect, and integrity. Citizens should demand these standards to function effectively.
Trust is the key to an appropriate relationship between elected & appointed officials and their constituents. An elected official gains the privilege to serve only by earning the trust of a majority of the electorate. Each official must not to compromise that trust in any way once inducted to office.
The topic of open meetings and open records is of central importance to public perception of how government operates. A government functioning in secrecy behind closed doors restricts public access to full information about its operations. Such actions discourage those citizens who wish to participate in the process. It is the duty of the people to openly communicate between citizens and with their government; equally, provisions must be allowed for reasonable constraints where necessary for the efficient operation of government.
A fair balance of communication must be struck between protecting the integrity of government while maintaining transparency with the public. The people have responsibilities as well. They must stay informed and be vigilant. After all we “the people” are the overseers of our local government.
In the last March town election there were citizen petitions on the ballot. These petitions were voted in with about 75% of the votes, yet our Legislators seem to think they should not do what the voters want. They want to make sure it is good for the town:
1 to record all meetings
2 to have meeting at a time when the majority can attend
3 to have public comment at the beginning and end of all meetings
4 to elect the planning board
And
5 to remove the word advisory from the budget committee in the charter to be compliant to RSA 40:14-b.
If you signed the petitions or voted for these, the Council is dismissing you. Pleases send us letters and go to the Public Meetings and tell them how you feel about them not listing to your vote.
A proper ethical standard can allow for the optimal conflict-free action in the town while protecting the people from potential misuse of government.
Voters should be able to raise concerns and participate in town process at every level, where the voice and influence of the individual citizen is strongest. Encouraging local self-governance and accountability is critical to securing public participation in government and safeguarding our democratic institutions.