Ironically after all the fuss in the media about the Shorewood Village Board spending $225,000 to “market Shorewood”, the same Village Board has decided that it should save an estimated $2,350 by not publicizing its actions in any newspaper.
Per Village Resolution 2007-6, the Village Board unanimously voted NOT to publish any public notices, ordinances, minutes of proceedings, or other notices, unless required by law.
In lieu of publishing in a newspaper, the Board decided that it would simply post them on bulletin boards in the Village, and also put them on the Village’s website (which is notoriously out of date). In their action, the Board even rejected a suggestion by me, that they at least put out a “free” Press Release to area publications, to alert the media to actions by the Village.
I believe that this new policy by the Board goes in exactly the opposite direction of more OPEN government, that citizens are increasingly demanding of their elected officials.
Such a policy of going “stealth” with the actions of the Village Board, makes an even greater mockery of the Marketing Shorewood plan, that will cost Village Taxpayers $225,000, and which the Board received much derision from “talking head” types like Jessica McBride. Or maybe, with this new policy, they are hoping that such actions do not get the light of day they deserve – and keep them off the Hot Seat !
