Oh, the irony of it all

Realizing that 963 new emails in my in-box are a bit excessive, I have spent the morning going through my email.  I found this link to Josephine Posti’s Center Court Blog, dated April 9, 2010.  http://jposti.blogspot.com/2010/04/clarification-on-information.html She writes:

What isn’t healthy is distortion, fear-mongering, lies and innuendo. This latest piece from “Concerned Citizens” is filled with each. It doesn’t promote healthy debate, is written in a conspiratorial tone and limits dialogue about important issues that affect each of us. It’s imperative that we, as elected officials, present facts, act transparently, listen respectfully and consider all facets of an issue. This piece doesn’t tell me who “Concerned Citizens” are but does tell me who they aren’t – a group committed to any of those principles.

I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation about budget and policy issues with the public and with my fellow Board members in a civil, respectful manner. I’ve seen a tremendous amount of good work done on the Board by people who didn't necessarily agree but chose to work together honestly and openly. To me, that’s who we are as a community. This isn’t.

This post prompted me to create our website.  In my previous post, I had written that lebocitizens.com was registered on April 9, 2010.  By now, President Posti knows who “Concerned Citizens” are.  We present facts and act transparently to a Board that does not listen and consider all facets of an issue.  In fact, we were accused of giving too many facts. Fortunately, the fear-mongering accusations have ceased.  We demonstrated that the community was not evenly divided as reported by then President Kubit. We started recording meetings so that the community can hear unedited meetings any time, day or night.  The Board has been referring to our recordings at meetings and in emails to us.  Are they uncomfortable?  If they act transparently, this should not bother them.  I have been recording Commission meetings with no problems.  In fact, one Commissioner even suggested where we could set up a video camera for Discussion Sessions.  To me, this is exemplifies working together honestly and openly.

Ms. Posti continues with how she looks forward to continuing the conversation about budget and policy issues with the public and with her fellow Board members in a civil, respectful manner.  At the October Audit/Finance Committee meeting, the preliminary budget was not shared with the residents.  The next Audit/Finance Committee meeting will be February 24, 2011.  Does this exemplify working together honestly and openly?  Do we have to wait that long before we see a preliminary budget?  At the November 3, 2010 Policy Committee meeting, Ms. Posti says to a resident with over forty years of experience in finance, “You understand how a TIF works, right?”   Is that an example of being respectful with the public?  In addition, references to recording the meeting were made by two School Board members at that meeting.  Again, is this how the School Board chooses to work together honestly and openly?  To me, this isn’t who we are as a community.