By Austin Lewter, Publisher
There are a few things I take seriously.
They are values my business partner Hugh Lewis takes equally as serious.
Among them are the public’s right know; transparency in government; and accessible communications with our elected officials.
The community newspaper serves as the citizens’ sounding board, defender, and historian.
We are not here to be muckrakers.
We are here to make sure our community has the knowledge they need to hold our elected officials accountable.
Hugh has done a fine job of this with his page one piece outlining missteps made by a quorum of Jefferson aldermen last week.
Now it is my job— on the opinion page— to deepen the conversation.
I applaud Mayor Baker for moving swiftly with the city administrator search.
Jefferson has gone too long without a city administrator.
For that matter, prior to Baker’s election, the city went too long without a duly certified mayor.
The lack of someone stepping into that role displayed an embarrassing amount of apathy.
I applaud Mr. Baker for throwing his hat in the ring and respect anyone who subjects themselves to elected office at the local level.
It is a thankless job.
But it is a job that mandates certain procedures and requires a level of accountability not needed in the private sector.
Chief among this is the Open Meetings Act.
The law is clear.
If a quorum of public board members are present, they cannot discuss city business without having posted notice of the meeting 72 hours prior.
The 72 hour requirement can be circumvented if an emergency meeting is warranted.
There are specific reasons— defined by law— for which an emergency meeting can be called, and even then, the meeting must be posted. The only difference is a shortened posting period.
The Open Meetings Act applies to elected and appointed boards.
JEDCO cannot host a workshop without posting it.
County commissioners can’t talk public business without posting it.
The Tourism Board has to post their meetings.
The public has the right to know when their representatives meet. It is integral to a truly free democracy.
Holding a meeting without prior public notice is not only illegal— it is insulting.
And it’s unnecessary.
So, to all the public officials reading this: I say, “Just post it.”
When it doubt, just post it.
Even if it’s a social gathering away from city hall, just post it.
If there is any chance of a majority of board members being there, just post it.
Even if the group is less than a majority, why not post it?
The Texas Attorney General’s Office agrees, just post it.
The Secretary of State agrees, just post it.
The Texas Center for Community Journalism agrees, just post it.
The Texas Press Association agrees, just post it.
The 4th oldest newspaper in Texas agrees, just post it.
Hugh Lewis and Austin Lewter agree, just post it.
I don’t understand what is gained by not posting it.
I don’t understand defending your actions by saying, “no city business was discussed.”
I don’t buy it.
The Jimplecute is dedicated to being part of the solution in Jefferson. We are not out to be part of the problem.
We ask our elected officials to do the same.
Be transparent, follow the rules and don’t lie to us.
Whether or not legal action is taken on this matter is not up a couple of country newspaper publishers.
That’s not our call.
That decision must be made by other officials— those sworn to uphold the laws of the Great State of Texas.
But, this publication thinks those involved with theses meetings owe their citizens an apology.
They have insulted our right to know and shown disregard for the procedures that ensure transparency in government.
Austin Lewter is the co- publisher and editor of the Jefferson Jimplecute. He can be reached at jefersonjimplecute@gmail.com