Pubdate: Tue, 14 May 2002 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2002 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 HARTSELLE COUNCIL SHOULD LAUD PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Hartselle Mayor Clif Knight gave the perfect response after a resident called for concerned citizens to attend all City Council meetings. "I think it's fantastic that they are coming to our meetings," Mr. Knight said. "We operate in the open and welcome anybody who wants to come." Mr. Knight was responding to accusations made by a Crestline elementary teacher. The teacher, Lane Hampton, believes the council is hurting the good name and character of the school system. She believes the City Council calls last-minute work sessions "in hopes few people will attend so they can continue to bash our work." Mr. Knight denies this. The school board and council have been at odds after two Hartselle High baseball players collapsed in school March 4. One tested positive for marijuana. Some council members are upset that School Superintendent Lee Hartsell took no punitive action. The council members publicly voiced their concerns. Now, many more people are interested in city government. That's good. Officials on all elected or appointed boards should have Mr. Knight's attitude. The public, by law, has the right to attend these meetings. Both Ms. Hampton and Mr. Knight are doing the right thing. She's calling for more public participation in city government. Mr. Knight is inviting members of her "City Council Watch Group" to participate. All government, city, state and national, needs public opinion to function properly. That's the basis of democratic society. With few exceptions, attendance at most governmental body meetings is sparse. Too many citizens show up only when a controversial issue is involved. The issue here is the school system We wish Ms. Hampton success in forming her watch group. But she must also be forewarned that the numbers of people attending will probably dwindle once this controversy passes. People should be more interested in government. But if council discussions and actions don't involve what's happening in their back yard, they don't attend. The best thing that could happen to Hartselle would be to have a full house of citizens interested in all decisions and not just those affecting the school system. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom