Thursday, June 25, 2009
Editorial: Montgomery County cuts out the public
Supervisors never consulted citizens when hiring the new county administrator.
From the RoundTable blog
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Congratulations to Craig Meadows on his new job as Montgomery County administrator.
What's that, county residents? You didn't know the board of supervisors was close to hiring someone? You didn't get a chance to talk to the finalists or even know who they were? There's a simple explanation: The board kept you in the dark.
Back when former county administrator Clay Goodman left to take the helm in Roanoke County, the board announced a national search for a replacement. Board Chairwoman Annette Perkins teased the public, dangling hopes of citizen involvement.
Maybe, she said, the good people of Montgomery County could meet the finalists at a public forum or something similar. Then they could share their thoughts about the candidates with the board.
The board received about 50 applicants, and narrowed that to about 10 and then three finalists. One of those dropped out, so the board brought in Meadows and the other one for interviews. They introduced them to county staff, constitutional officers and town managers, but never the citizens for whom the new county manager ultimately would work.
Maybe that shouldn't surprise anyone. These are supervisors, after all, who make decisions about all of their committee appointments behind closed doors.
"Trust us and don't worry your pretty little heads. We know what's best for you," seems to be their motto.
When the field of candidates for a job like administrator narrows to a few finalists, applicants no longer are entitled to secrecy. Yes, their current employers probably will find out, but transparency is the price of seeking local government employment. Citizens deserve an opportunity to meet applicants, judge their backgrounds and skills, and advise elected officials before the final decision.
We hope other government bodies that will hire top administrators in the near future do not replicate such paternalistic secrecy.
The Montgomery County School Board is looking for a new superintendent, and Roanoke City Council next year will hire a new city manager. Give the citizens a voice in those decisions. Let them meet the finalists.
