DES MOINES – Despite previously calling the matter an “extremely important issue”, the Iowa Public Information Board dismissed a complaint brought by a Mason City citizen about closed door budget meetings perpetrated by the Mason City council and Mayor Eric Bookmeyer.
A Mason City man, Michael Servantez, filed a complaint against the mayor and council for holding secret budget hearings as they struggled to put together a budget for 2016. The elected officials eventually had to ask the public for guidance on at least one issue – sanitation rates – and resorted to closed door meetings to patch together the next city budget.
The city fell back on the “legal advice” of its hourly-paid attorney, Randy Nielsen, who “ruled” that the secret meetings – which barred the public – were fine to proceed with. Nielsen also “ruled” that hiding information from emails sent to city officials was just fine, as well.
Weeks ago, the board deferred the issue for a second time as it investigated and pondered an outcome. In a document provided at that time to NorthIowaToday.com, the board said that the legal issues in the case “impact all levels of government”.
The complaint has been deferred until the board’s May meeting, in order to “give additional thought and input on this extremely important issue”.
“This case involves very complex issues that impact state, city, and school boards and needs to be handled in a deliberative manner,” said Charlie Smithson, Executive Director of the Iowa Public Information Board.
At the May 21 meeting, an Iowa Ombudsman’s Office representative attended the meeting and made remarks to the board regarding Servantez’ complaint. Angela McBride of the Ombudsman’s office asked to speak in regards to the case when it was addressed by the board. The board then dismissed the complaint with a vote of 7-1.
Thanks to Mr. Servantez for doing this. Even though it was swept under the rug (no surprise there) it was a good effort and will make it more difficult for them to get away with something next time.
Clear Lake proved they could operate in secret and others are following suit. Transparent government? No. At all times any citizen should be able to see and know what their government is doing…emails and all. But America has a convoluted way of doing things these days, based on voter apathy, dollar menus, hedonism, and laziness. America is full of shit when it calls itself a democracy.
As you see in the newspapers – most elected officials are corrupt or can easily be corrupted .
Mason City’s government and elected officials seem to always be embroiled in controversy. Getting old.
So NIT, after all this. Do you think that they will follow the rules and not hold secret budget meetings? Will they make those.meetings public knowledge for citizens and media to attend? What’s your prediction?
My prediction, and my opinion: The mayor will always attempt to get away with anything and everything he can. Remember, he depends on the people of Mason City and his own wife to survive; they support him. Therefore, he is a taker. And he will take, take, and take some more until he is stopped from doing so. So no, these meetings will continue, his back room booze sessions will never stop, he will be sleazy until the day Jesus takes him away. He cannot face any scrutiny or questioning, this is why he hides. He refused to debate in his election. Why? He wants to do all his business in private, only surrounded by those who enable him. These secret meetings allow him to get away with what he wants without facing the very people he “represents”.
Yea, that’s what I figured.
It would be interesting to know what comments that Angela McBride, the Ombudsman, said to the board prior to their vote.
Ombudsmen are notorious lackeys:
Government Ombudsman to Council Chief Executive Officer: “Now I’ve cleared your Council of maladministration, tell me, did you actually do it?”
First of all, hats off to Mr. Servantez for having the guts to report this behavior to the so-called “proper” authorities. He tried to do what’s right, and waded into the murky waters of governmental oversight. Now, in my opinion, these meetings smacked of a desire by the mayor and the council to hide something from the public. Outside of lawsuits, all public business should be done in the public eye. Just because this board didn’t pursue or discipline city hall doesn’t make what they did right. The people of Mason City should be outraged that this kind of behavior is taking place by elected officials.